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Nashville Predators vs. Minnesota Wild Preview: Band Practice

On the second game of a home-and-home series with the Minnesota Wild, the Predators return to Bridgestone Arena tonight hoping to benefit from some home cooking.

Nashville Predators

The Predators will probably ice a familiar lineup tonight. While Brian Boyle was out with a lower-body injury on Sunday, we don’t have any news yet on his status for tonight.

Expect Mikael Granlund and Wayne Simmonds to slot in again tonight. Granlund looked very comfortable with Kyle Turris and Calle Järnkrok, but expect the line blender to be at work tonight.

Dan Hamhuis and Miikka Salomäki remain on IR.

Pekka Rinne will likely get the start for the Predators. Ryan Johansen leads Nashville in points with 54 (11 goals, 43 assists). Captain Roman Josi has 52 points (14 goals, 38 assists) and is playing some good hockey. Viktor Arvidsson has 27 goals and Filip Forsberg has 22. Forsberg scored on Sunday night in Minnesota.

Minnesota Wild

The Wild were on the second half of a back-to-back on Sunday evening, and they were likely fairly tired by the end of the game. Since we saw Alex Stalock on Sunday, expect Devan Dubnyk in net tonight for Minnesota.

Zach Parise leads the Wild in scoring with 54 points (24 goals, 30 assists). Eric Staal has 45 points (19 goals, 26 assists). Ryan Suter leads Minnesota defenders with 43 points (7 goals, 36 assists).

Newcomer Ryan Donato has found his scoring touch in Minnesota. Acquired from the Boston Bruins in return for Charlie Coyle, Donato has posted 5 points in his last 5 games.

Dubnyk has a .912 Sv% in 54 games and Stalock has a .896 Sv% in 17 games.

Memories and Feelings

  • The video for Anthony Bitetto and Kevin Fiala is sure to be a heartbreaker.
  • Also…Brad Hunt and Pontus Åberg. Hi. /

Reasons to Watch

  • It’s close to playoff time. Let’s string some wins and solid play together.
  • Don’t look for a shot counter on NBC Sports, but you will definitely know how long Ryan Suter’s shifts are. /

Wild Social Media

  • @mnwild
  • @hockeywildernes: The Wild’s SB Nation site is Hockey Wilderness, but due to Twitter character limits, their handle there only has one S./

Tonight’s Theme Song

“TOOTIMETOOTIME” by The 1975.

Tonight’s Drink of Choice

Some moscato to cheer you up in this frigid weather, perhaps?

How to Watch

Tonight’s game is on NBC Sports. Puck drop will be just after 7:00 Central.