Gustavsson's recent hot streak clashes with Saros' seasoned Predators dominance. Who will steal the Christmas curtain-raiser?
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild (22-10-5) is back in action tonight to host the Nashville Predators (15-16-4) for one last game before Christmas break.
Here are tonights starting goaltenders.
The Wild will continue the goaltending rotation tonight. After Jesper Wallstedt started in Minnesota's last game, Filip Gustavsson will get the nod tonight.
Gustavsson, 27, is 12-8-3 on the year with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage with three shutouts.
Minnesota won the season-opening matchup between the two teams earlier. He stopped 32-of-34 shots in the 3-2 overtime win.
He is 5-2-1 with a 2.97 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage in eight starts vs. Nashville in his career.
The 6-foot-2 goaltender has been hot recently. He is 5-0-0 in his last five starts, holding a 1.40 goals-against average, a .945 save percentage and one shutout. In 10 starts since Nov. 16, Gustavsson is 8-1-1 with 1.68 goals-against average, a .938 save percentage and two shutouts.
Juuse Saros will start tonight for the Predators. He is 13-11-3 on the year with a 2.95 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage in 27 starts.
Justus Annunen started the Preds game against the Wild earlier this year.
Saros, 30, is 9-3-2 with a 2.30 goals-agains average, a .926 save percentage and two shutouts in 14 career starts against the Wild.
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