Predators 3, Wild 1
Colin Wilson scored one goal and set up another as visiting Nashville handed Minnesota its fourth consecutive defeat.
Mike Fisher and Calle Jarnkrok also tallied as the Central Division-leading Predators won their third in a row and improved to 9-1-2 in the last 12 games. Pekka Rinne turned aside 36 shots to secure his league-best 28th victory.
Charlie Coyle netted the lone goal for the reeling Wild, who tumbled to their 10th loss in 12 games (2-6-4). Niklas Backstrom made 24 saves en route to his fifth straight loss (0-3-2).
A defensive lapse by Minnesota led to the opening goal as Wilson gained control behind the net and slid a pass to a wide-open Fisher, who tucked a backhander past Backstrom from the doorstep 4:01 into the contest. The Wild drew even just over 10 minutes later as defenseman Christian Folin threw a puck at the net from the side boards that squirted in front, setting up an easy tap-in for Coyle.
Nashville seized control in the third as Jarnkrok fired the rebound of Olli Jokinen's shot past a lunging Backstrom before a blunder by Wild defenseman Justin Falk provided an insurance goal. Falk spun along the end line and lost control of the puck to an uncovered Wilson, who knocked in a backhander with 11:13 remaining.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Wild LW Zach Parise returned after a two-game absence due to the illness of his father, J.P., who passed away Wednesday after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. ... Fisher extended his point streak to three games while Wilson collected his 12th and 13th points in his last 10 contests. ... Wild LW Thomas Vanek had a clean breakaway in the final seconds of the first period but attempted a backhand pass to a trailing Parise instead of shooting.