The set-up: The 42-24-9 Minnesota Wild and the 48-16-11 Nashville Predators conclude their five-game season series tonight at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The Predators lead the Central Division with an NHL-best 107 points, while the Wild's 93 points have them third in the Central but also just four points inside of the playoff 'cut line.' The teams met Saturday in Minnesota with the Wild coming away with a 4-1 win. That victory was part of a current 11-4-2 mark over Minnesota's last 17 games. As for the Preds, Sunday's 5-4 shootout loss at Winnpeg was the team's third straight setback, following their franchise-best 15-game point streak (14-0-1) from Feb. 19 through Mar. 19.

Minnesota: The Wild's win over Nashville was big but they sure could have done without Sunday's 2-1 overtime loss to Boston. "We're playing against really good teams right now and we're managing to get points, but it sure would have been nice to get that other one," Zach Parise said after the game. Captain Mikko Koivu's goal midway into the third period versus the Bruins gave him points in 11 of his last 15 games but just 41 on the season. Eric Staal saw his four-game point streak end versus the Bruins, but continues his attempt to become the second player in NHL history to bookend 40-goal seasons around an absence of at least nine years (Gordie Howe, 1956-77, 1968-69). Staal has 39 goals and 72 points on the season. Granlund and Zucker are tied for second on the team with 59 points.

Nashville: Filip Forsberg increased his point total to 13 (four goals, nine assists) in his last 13 games after setting up a goal for the second straight contest in the loss to Winnipeg. His 55 points are second on the team to Viktor Arvidsso, who owns club bests in goals (28) and points (58). Ryan Johansen (48 points) scored Nashville's lone goal in the last meeting with Minnesota, giving him five points (two goals, three assists) in the season series. Defenseman P.K. Subban has the same totals against the Predators in 2017-18 and has an assist in three straight and four of his last five games overall, raising his team-leading total to 39.

The pick: The Wild have won three of the first four meetings with the Predators and Minnesota goalie Devan Dubnyk (32-14-6, 2.60, GAA &.916 SP on the season) owns three wins against Nashville this season, fashioning a .925 save percentage. However, the Wild are just 17-18-1 on the road this season, allowing 3.44 GPG. Nashville's Pekka Rinne (40-11-4, 2.27 GAA & .928 SP) is more than the equal of Dubnyk and how does one ignore Nashville's 25-8-4 home record, where the Preds are outscoring opponents 3.35-to-2.46 GPG.