GAMEDAY: Wild vs. Predators

Saturday, 02.09.2013 / 12:16 PM

Minnesota Wild (4-5-1: 9 points, 11th in Western Conference, 3rd in Northwest Division) vs. Nashville Predators (5-2-3: 13 points, T-5th in Western Conference, 2nd in Central Division)

The Minnesota Wild continues to look for the right combinations up front tonight, as the club hosts the Nashville Predators. This is the second time the two teams have met early this season at Xcel Energy Center, with the Preds taking the first game, 3-1.

The Wild has been tinkering with its line combinations over the past week, searching for a spark offensively. The club looks to close out its current two-game home stand with a win and stop a three-game slide.

Rookie Mikael Granlund will return to the lineup and center Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley. Granlund was a healthy scratch in the team’s last game against the Vancouver Canucks. Matt Cullen will move to the wing on the third line alongside Kyle Brodziak and Cal Clutterbuck. Pierre-Marc Bouchard will move to a line with Zenon Konopka and Mike Rupp. Zach Parise missed practice yesterday with an illness, but will skate tonight on a line with Mikko Koivu and Charlie Coyle.

Nate Prosser will play tonight for the first time since Jan. 25 and replaces Marco Scandella on the blue line.

Niklas Backstrom will get the start in goal, as Wild Head Coach said that he wants the goaltender to have a chance to respond after Thursday's loss.

One place the Wild would like to see more production tonight is its power play. In the team's last outing, the Wild scored its first power play goal in 13 chances over the last five games.

On Thursday, Minnesota was taken out by the Vancouver Canucks, 4-1. The team outshot the Canucks 23-22, but couldn’t overcome goaltender Cory Schneider. The Wild’s lone goal came on a third period power play from Tom Gilbert. The blueliner ripped a one-timer past Schneider high to the glove side. Jonas Brodin and Matt Cullen picked up assists on the play.

The Predators topped the Los Angels Kings at home on Thursday, 3-0. Pekka Rinne was the difference, stopping all 32 shots he faced for the shutout. Colin Wilson scored twice in the second period to pace Nashville, while Gabriel Bourque opened the scoring in the first period.

When Rinne is on his game, he’s tough to beat. The Nashville netminder is 4-2-3 with a .933 save percentage and 1.81 goals against average.

Offensively, Martin Erat and Colin Wilson, who each have three goals and four assists, pace the Predators. Norris Trophy finalists Shea Weber is off to a slow start offensively with only one assist in his first 10 games.

In case you didn’t know, it’s National Pizza Day, delicious. All fans in attendance will receive a Wild pizza cutter to slice up some pie.

The Wild will wear its GREEN sweaters tonight.

Gilbert netted his third marker in 10 games this season on Thursday–matching his total in 67 games last season. The Bloomington native has seven points (3-4-=7) this season, leading Minnesota defensemen and ranking third on the Wild in scoring.

Fans can guess who's going to be hot with the Wild's HotBox Fantasy Challenge for a chance to win great prizes.

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Granlund gets back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the first time this season:

Parise – Koivu – Coyle
Heatley – Granlund – Setoguchi
Cullen – Brodziak – Clutterbuck
Bouchard – Konopka – Rupp

Prosser comes in for Scandella:

Suter – Brodin
Gilbert – Stoner
Falk – Prosser

Backstrom is 7-5-1 with a 2.85 goals against average and a .905 save percentage in 13 games (11 starts) versus Nashville.

We’re trying to do everything we can to find the right solution, whether it’s to spark guys or find the right mix. Usually there’s a method to the madness, we’re not just trying to catch lightning in a bottle. We want to make sure that are putting something together that can work, more than just in the short term.

-Yeo on trying to find the right line combinations

Forwards Matt Kassian and Torrey Mitchell will be tonight’s healthy scratches, along with defenseman Marco Scandella.

Jared Spurgeon is on Injured Reserve with a lower body injury.

Nashville’s assistant coach Lane Lambert finished an 18-year playing career with the Houston Aeros in 2000-01.

In the first matchup between Nashville and Minnesota this season, the Preds 3-1 win ended a streak of four, one-goal games between the two sides.

Wild vs. Predators will be broadcast locally in high definition on FOX Sports North with a start time at 7:00 p.m. The game can be heard on KFAN 100.3 FM or online at Wild.com.

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Wild vs. VAN - Feb. 7

26	SHOTS	32
29	FACEOFFS	37
14	HITS	22
12	PIM	16
0/6	PP	1/4
4	GIVEAWAYS	6
4	TAKEAWAYS	4
16	BLOCKED SHOTS	7