Predators 3, Wild 2
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Needing a win badly to turn things around, the Nashville Predators found it against one of the NHL's hottest teams.
Scoring the game's first three goals Saturday night, Nashville rode that start to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild at Bridgestone Arena.
In improving to 16-11-6, the Predators scored more than twice in a game for just the sixth time in their last 16 games. They upped their mark to 5-8-3 in that span, winning none of the 10 games in which they were held to two or fewer markers.
It was the first regulation loss in 10 games for Minnesota (17-8-6), which pulled within a goal when left winger Jason Zucker scored from the high slot at 8:35 of the third period. But the Wild couldn't produce the equalizer despite earning their only power play in the game's final 10 minutes.
Goalie Pekka Rinne (13-9-6) made 19 saves for Nashville, his best a stop on a penalty shot by Zucker in the first period. Devan Dubnyk (14-8-2) notched 36 saves for Minnesota.
Nashville came out of the gate flying, scoring at :46 of the first period when left wing Filip Forsberg deflected a wrister from defenseman Shea Weber for his seventh goal of the season.
The Predators made it 2-0 on the power play at 14:11 of the first when center Mike Ribeiro tipped Weber's point blast past goalie Devan Dubnyk for his fourth goal. That came in the middle of 4:22 of uninterrupted man advantage time for Nashville as Minnesota took minors for interference, delay of game and too many men on the ice.
Right winger James Neal upped the Nashville lead to 3-0 at 8:06 of the second period with a wrister from the left wing, his team-high 13th goal.
The Wild got on the board 43 seconds later when left winger Zach Parise tipped a slapper from defenseman Marco Scandella for his 11th marker of the season.
NOTES: Minnesota entered the game tied for eighth in the NHL on the power play, but the Wild are only 26th in road power plays. They are third in home power plays. ... Nashville C Mike Fisher (lower-body injury) skated in Saturday morning's practice but sat out his ninth straight game. He was injured Dec. 1 in a 5-2 win over Arizona. ... C Erik Haula and G Niklas Backstrom were the Wild's scratches. The Predators scratched D Anthony Bitetto and LW Austin Watson.