GAMEDAY: Wild at Predators

Ryan Suter doesn’t expect streamers and balloons at his welcome back party in Nashville. The defenseman is more likely to hear a chorus of boo birds when he returns to Music City tonight for the first time since signing with the Minnesota Wild as a free agent on July 4. The blueliner was selected seventh overall by Nashville in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and played seven seasons with the Predators, accruing 238 points (38-200=238) and 396 PIM in 542 games. He ranks fourth on Nashville’s all-time list in games played and assists, tied for eighth in points, tied for third in power play assists (88) and second in plus-minus (+43).

There might have been a slight adjustment period in Minnesota for the 28-year-old, but he has been a rock lately. Suter scored his first goal of the season Tuesday and is tied for a Wild season-high, five-game point streak (1-5=6), his longest since a six-game streak Dec. 11-22, 2010 (1-7=8). The alternate captain has 10 assists in his last 12 games and leads Minnesota with 14 helpers on the year. He ranks tied for fourth in the NHL in assists amongst defensemen and is tied for eight in points, along with leading the League in ice time (27:27).

Expected to make a return to the Wild lineup tonight is Cal Clutterbuck. The forward was activated from Injured Reserve yesterday after missing the previous six games after taking a low hit from Edmonton’s Taylor Hall on Feb. 21.

Yesterday, the Wild recalled goaltender Matt Hackett from the Houston Aeros, while placing Darcy Kuemper on Injured Reserve.

The Predators and the Wild have split the first two meetings of the season played at Xcel Energy Center. Nashville won the first game, 3-1, on Jan. 21, while Minnesota took the second in overtime, 2-1, on Feb. 9.

On Tuesday, Minnesota suffered a 5-3 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks. Devin Setoguchi got the Wild on the board first period before the Hawks scored four unanswered goals. The Wild scored two third period goals, first by Suter and followed by Kyle Brodziak, to bring the game within one, but Chicago answered with its fifth goal midway through the period. Goaltender Niklas Backstrom stopped 13-of-17 shots in one period of play, before being replaced in net by Kuemper, who stopped 14-of-15 shots.

Last night, the Predators shutout the Edmonton Oilers, 6-0. Colin Wilson had two goals, giving him a team-leading seven, and two assists, Shea Weber had three assists while Pekka Rinne made 24 saves for his League-leading fourth shutout.