Wild Game Day number 45
Wild Record (22-14-8 52 pts)
Road Record (8-6-6)
Opponent: Nashville Predators (19-17-8 46 pts)
Home Record (11-6-3)
Site: Bridgestone Arena , Nashville, Tennessee
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results:
12/20 Predators 6 @ Wild 5 (OT)
1/10 Predators 3 @ Wild 1
2/26 Wild 4 @ Predators 2
3/17 Wild 3 @ Predators 2 (OT)
4/9 Wild 4 @ Predators 2
Last result:
11/4 Predators 3 @ Wild 2
11/21 Predators 0 @ Wild 4
12/19 Wild 2 @ Predators 3
The struggling Wild head out on the road for their next four, with the first stop Music City, tonight against the Nashville Predators. Nashville is returning home following a winless four game road trip 0-3-1. The Predators have taken two of the three match-ups with the Wild including the only contest played in Nashville, 3-2 last month.
Tonight will mark the home debut of center Ryan Johanson. Johanson was acquired on the 6th of January from Columbus in exchange for defenseman Seth Jones. Johanson was brought in to boost an inconsistent Predator offense. He has played in four games to date with Nashville and has collected 2 goals and 4 assists. Although the Predators have not yet won with Johanson in the lineup they are starting to gel offensively. They are coming off a 3 goal third period in Winnipeg, sparked by a goal and an assist from Johanson. The third period comeback allowed Nashville to gain a much needed point in the standings.
The road is a welcome change for the Wild as they will be challenged to pull things together following a very disappointing three game home losing streak. The Wild offense was nearly non-existent, netting just 3 goals in the three home losses. Often teams tend to pull together on the road. Mike Yeo hopes that is the case now with his club as they work their way out of their current funk.
The points are becoming tougher and tougher to come by and teams and scouting departments are working overtime as the trade deadline draws closer. Nashville has already made the first splash of the trade season acquiring the highly coveted number one center Johanson. Johanson makes the Predators a much more explosive team, and will no doubt have an big impact on the playoff picture. Chuck Fletcher's challenge is how he addresses the Wild need for an impact forward, most notably a top notch center.
Tonight the Wild can expect a rejuvenated Predator squad led by their new top line. The Predators are always a good home team and expect the crowd to be extra jacked tonight with Johanson's home debut, and of course, the boo birds will be out in force for Ryan Suter.
The Wild need to get back to their game and really challenge the Predator net. They will get their opportunities for sure as Nashville is prone to periods of sloppy defensive zone play. Minnesota has been better on the road of late winning three of their past five (3-1-1) away from home, including their last two.
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Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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