Tonight the 25-21-1 Predators kick off a three game road trip at Xcel Energy Center as they face the 21-21-5 Minnesota Wild. This will be the second of four games between the Central Division teams. The first game on November 30 had many storylines beside on ice statistics as former Predators head coach and newly named Wild head coach John Hynes made his return to Bridgestone Arena. The Wild defeated the Predators 6-1 on home ice and ended Nashville's six game win streak.
Tonight may not have the same dramatic storylines, but the game is no less significant. Andrew Brunette was clear that this is a must win game for the Predators who have lost their last two games against Arizona and Florida.
"It's going to be a playoff game," Brunette said after Wednesday's practice. "The pace it's going to be at, that building is a hard building to play at."
"We have to be ready to go."
A quick start has been a factor in most of the Predators' games in January. In Nashville's five wins in 2024, they have scored first in four of the five. When it comes to the five losses in the new year, Nashville has given up the first goal of the game in each one.
Minnesota enters tonight's game with momentum on their side riding a three game win streak while the Predators have dropped their last two. While there isn't panic in the locker room, the Predators knows the importance of tonight's game.
""We've had a little bit of a stretch here of being on the road and coming home, and we just can't look for excuses," Brunette said.
"It's going to be a big hockey game and they are a really good team. This is a rivalry game. We're going to both be fighting for the same thing here."
John Hynes agrees that tonight's game could be a battle.
"They're a good team and going to be a challenge for us," Hynes said this morning.
"They've got lots of competitive players and they like to get to the slot," Hynes said of the Predators. "You don't want to give their power play a lot of opportunities. It's a dangerous group."
Focus will be on the top players on each roster. Kirill Kaprizov has 18 goals and 42 points while Joel Eriksson-Ek is on pace for a career best season in goals. Nashville's top line of Filip Forsberg, Ryan O'Reilly, and Gus Nyquist have been one of the most productive lines in the division.
Goaltending could decide the outcome of tonight's game as well. Both Filip Gustavsson and Juuse Saros have had up and down performances this season, but if one goaltender can outplay the other, it could mean the difference for his respective team.
Nashville will need depth scoring tonight which has been a struggle for the Predators lately. Brunette made a few line adjustments in Wednesday's practice that he hopes could jump start secondary scoring.
"They're just not going in right now," Brunette said when it comes to depth scoring. "That's pro hockey, but we're going to need that secondary offense here going forward down the stretch."
The Wild host the Predators tonight at Xcel Energy Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm CT. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports South and 102.5 The Game will have the radio call.