Minnesota Wild (27-14-4, 58 pts) at Nashville Predators (15-22-7, 37 pts)
Venue: Bridgestone Arena
Date: Saturday, January 18
Time: 7:00 pm CST / 8:00 EST
TV: ESPN+ / FDSN / FDSW / FDSS
Radio:
Minnesota Wild- KFAN 100.3 FM
Nashville Predators – The Game 102.5 FM
DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Minnesota Wild -1.5 ML -165
Nashville Predators +1.5 ML +140
O/U 5.5
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Minnesota Wild News & Notes:
Minnesota has lost to two (Vegas and Edmonton) of the best teams in the league while being shorthanded due to injury. The Wild have been able to maintain their level of play despite the injuries, going 6-4-0 in their last ten games, and has continued to be the best road team in the NHL with a 16-4-3.
Nashville Predators News & Notes:
The Predators have won two straight games at home and will look to extend their streak tonight against the Wild. Nashville has been a disappointment this season after the Predators spent big in free agency to supplement a playoff team from a year ago but hasn’t been able to consistently live up to expectations.
Minnesota Wild Projected Lines:
Boldy-Rossi-Zuccarello
Lauko-Eriksson Ek-Hartman
Foligno-Gaudreau-Trenin
Shore-Khusnutdinov-Jones
Middleton-Merrill
Chisholm-Bogosian
Dermott-Jiricek
Gustavsson
Fleury
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Nashville Predators Projected Lines:
Forsberg-Stamkos-Marchessault
Nyquist-O’Reilly-Hinostroza
Novak-Svechkov-L’Heureux
Jankowski-McCarron-Sissons
Josi-Barron
Skjei-Blankenburg
Stastney-Schenn
Saros
Annunen
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Players To Watch:
Minnesota Wild
Matt Boldy has eight points in his last six games to help lead the Minnesota attack in the absence of Kirill Kaprizov. Boldy is tied with Marco Rossi for second on the Wild in scoring with 39 points (17g, 22a). The 23-year-old Mills, Massachusetts native is on pace for a 71-point season which would be a career-high for the young winger.
Nashville Predators
Steven Stamkos was a big free-agent acquisition for the Predators and hasn’t lived up to expectations. The former Tampa Bay Lightning center has only 15 goals and 29 points this season after a 40-goal, 81-point season a year ago. The 34-year-old Stamkos is on pace for 28 goals and 54 points which is a great season for most players but the future Hall of Famer is held to a higher standard. Stamkos has been hot lately with three goals in his last two games, Stamkos could go on a run and pile up some goals, but is it too late to salvage the Predators’ season?
Injury Report:
Minnesota Wild
LW Marcus Johansson – IR
LW Kiril Kaprizov – IR
D Jarod Spurgeon – IR
D Brock Faber – OUT
D Jonas Brodin – OUT
Nashville Predators
LW Cole Smith – IR
D Jeremy Lauzon – IR
D Adam Wilsby – IR
RW Luke Evangelista – OUT
Next game:
Minnesota Wild – January 20 at Colorado Avalanche
Nashville Predators – January 21 vs. San Jose Sharks
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