Preview: Wild vs. Predators

SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild returns home after a 1-1 road trip against the Coyotes and Avs to play the red-hot Nashville Predators on Sunday afternoon.

Info for Today's Game:

• When: Sunday, March 10 at 2:30 p.m. CT
• Where: Xcel Energy Center (St. Paul, Minnesota)
• Watch: TNT & Max
• Listen: KFAN 100.3 FM
• Gamecenter: Wild vs. Preds

Wild Record: 30-27-7, 67 points, T-5th in Central Division

Predators Record: 37-25-3, 77 points, 4th in Central Division

2023-24 Series Record: 1-2-0

Wild vs. Preds All-Time Record: 37-39-12 (22-16-5 at Xcel Energy Center)

Third Jersey Record: 4-4-2

Last Time Out

The Wild narrowly fell to the Colorado Avalanche in overtime, 2-1, at Ball Arena on Friday night (3/8). D Brock Faber scored the only goal for Minnesota, assisted by forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek. G Filip Gustavsson stopped 38-of-40 shots faced to post a .950 SV%.

The Predators defeated the Coulmbus Blue Jackets, 2-1, last night at Nationwide Arena. F Kiefer Sherwood (1-0=1) and F Luke Evangelista (1-0=1) scored for Nashville. G Kevin Lankinen made 32-of-33 saves for a .970 SV% in the win.

Previously on Wild vs. Predators

The Wild lost to the Predators, 6-1, at Bridgestone Arena on Leap Day (2/29).

C Connor Dewar scored the lone Minnesota goal, assisted by forwards Brandon Duhaime and Ryan Hartman. Gustavsson made 25-of-31 saves in net (.806 SV%).

D Roman Josi (1-2=3) led Nashville in points. Forwards Colton Sissons (0-2=2) and Gustav Nyquist (0-2=2) each had two points. Forwards Filip Forsberg (1-0=1), Yakov Trenin (1-0=1), Cole Smith (1-0=1) and Ryan O'Reilly (1-0=1) and D Ryan McDonagh (1-0=1) all scored goals. G Juuse Saros stopped 33/34 shots faced (.971 SV%).

Players to Watch

• Kaprizov leads Minnesota with 68 points (30-38=68) and 30 goals this season and has 44 points (22-22=44) and a plus-13 rating in his last 30 games played
  • Needs one multi-goal game to tie Parise (25 multi-goal games with MIN) for third-most in franchise history
• Faber leads all NHL rookies with 25:09 TOI per game, 126 blocked shots and 31 assists, and is second with 37 points (6-31=37)
• Eriksson Ek leads Minnesota with 12 PPGs and ranks second with 58 points (29-29=58) and a career-high 29 goals this season and has 33 points (1419=33) in his last 27 games
• Josi (15-47=62) is fifth among NHL defenseman, leads Nashville in assists and is second on his team in points
• Forsberg (33-34=67) leads the Preds in points and goals and is third in assists
  • He owns seven points (5-2=7) in his last five games played
• Nyquist (17-39=56) owns six assists in his last five games played, is second on Nashville in assists, second in even-strength goals (13) and is third in points and goals

Recent Transactions - Trade Deadline Moves

- Acquired F Dmitry Ovchinnikov and a fourth-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for F Connor Dewar (3/8)

- Acquired F Luke Toporowski and a conditional sixth-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Boston Bruins in exchange for F Pat Maroon (3/8)

- Acquired F Turner Elson from the New York Rangers in exchange for F Nic Petan (3/8)

Acquired a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for F Brandon Duhaime (3/7)

To view more recent transactions, visit wild.com/transactions.

To view Minnesota's full Injury Report, visit wild.com/injury.

Connections

•  Wild Head Coach John Hynes went 134-96-18 in parts of four seasons (2020-23) as Nashville’s Head Coach
• F Freddy Gaudreau tallied eight points (3-5=8) in 84 games with Nashville in three seasons (2016-19)
• Hartman recorded 26 points (13-13=26) in 85 games in parts of two seasons with the Predators (2017-19)
• Predators Head Coach Andrew Brunette recorded 321 points (119-202=321) in 489 games with the Wild (2001-04, 2008-11)
  • He also spent five seasons in Minnesota’s hockey operations department (2014-19) as an Assistant Coach, Hockey Operations Advisor, Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel
• Nashville Assistant Coach Todd Richards served as Wild Head Coach for two seasons (2009-11)
• McDonagh hails from Saint Paul
• F Tommy Novak played four seasons at the University of Minnesota (2015-19) and is from St. Paul
• Nyquist recorded five points (1-4=5) in three regular season games and five points (0-5=5) in six Stanley Cup Playoff games with Minnesota last season
• Smith is a native of Brainerd
• F Jason Zucker tallied 243 points (132-111=243) and a plus-21 rating in 456 games across nine seasons (2011-20) with Minnesota

Fast Facts

•  Minnesota is 5-4-1 in its last 10 games played against the Predators at Xcel Energy Center.

Game Notes

For more information on this afternoon's matchup, check out the game notes below.