The Minnesota Wild will play the Nashville Predators for the final time this season on Apr. 11, with the game scheduled for 4:00 p.m. and broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network, KSTC-TV Channel 45, and KFAN FM 100.3.
This matchup is notable as all three previous meetings between the teams this season have been decided in overtime. According to Stats Perform, today could be the first time either team plays four consecutive overtime games against the same opponent in their history.
Minnesota enters today’s contest with a strong recent record of four wins and one loss over its last five games. The team had a four-game winning streak before losing to Dallas by a score of 5-4 on Thursday night. Over these five games, Minnesota has scored four power-play goals out of eleven opportunities (36.4%) while allowing only one power-play goal on nine chances (88.9% penalty kill). The Wild has not allowed a power-play goal in its last four games.
Nashville comes into the game just one point behind the Kings for eighth place in the Western Conference playoff race and holds a record of three wins, one loss, and one overtime loss over its last five contests. The Predators lost their most recent game to Utah by a score of 4-1 on Thursday night but have performed well on special teams recently with five power-play goals from fifteen opportunities (33.3%) and successfully killing fifteen out of sixteen penalties (93.8%).
In goal, Jesper Wallstedt is expected to start for Minnesota; he currently has a three-game win streak with a goals-against average (GAA) of 1.67 and save percentage (.938) during that stretch. For the season, Wallstedt holds a record of seventeen wins, eight losses, six overtime losses, along with a GAA of 2.65 and .914 save percentage plus four shutouts—ranking second in NHL save percentage and tied for third in shutouts—but has not yet faced Nashville.
Juuse Saros is expected to start for Nashville; he is two wins, two losses, one overtime loss over his last five starts with a GAA of 3.30 and .884 save percentage but has lost his last two outings including one shootout defeat. Against Minnesota this season Saros is one win and one overtime loss with GAA at 3.85 and .893 save percentage.
The outcome may impact playoff positioning as both teams look to close their regular-season series.
