Nashville Predators Look to Push Streak to 7 with Date Against Minnesota Wild

How perfect of a scenario is this set up with the Nashville Predators getting a chance at retribution against the Minnesota Wild, a team that ended their six-game winning streak earlier this season.

The Predators had a six-game win streak coming into their November 30 matchup with the Wild, and the newly hired head coach John Hynes lead a dominating win over his former team that let him go the previous offseason.

Since then, the Wild have tried to cling onto their playoff hopes but have faded to just hanging on by a thread now. As for the Predators, they have surged into being one of the favorites to get a wildcard spot thanks to these six wins a row.

A Chance for Retribution for the Preds Tonight vs. Wild

This is the third of four meetings this season between Nashville and Minnesota. The Predators did get some revenge on the road against the Wild on January 25 with three third period goals from Alexandre Carrier, Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi.

What has really helped the Predators during this recent surge, including the franchise's first ever five-game road sweep, is the spike in depth scoring. Michael McCarron in particular has been playing some inspired hockey for the fourth line with goals in two consecutive games and points in five of his last seven games.

Kiefer Sherwood scored two goals against the Sharks, Yakov Trenin and Mark Jankowski chipped in a crucial goals against the Kings, and Cole Smith and Cody Glass had goals against the Golden Knights. All as a part of this six-game win streak.

The Wild have had a brutal schedule as of late but have managed to still notch some impressive wins over the Canucks, Oilers and Kraken in this recent stretch. They put up 10 goals, yes 10, against the NHL-leading Canucks.

So for the Predators, it's another game they can't come in with a lazy or slow start. During the win streak the Predators have scored first in all six games.

The Wild aren't particularly elite in any major statistical category, and rank near the bottom in penalty kill, as do the Predators. So who is able to push puck possession and draw more penalties could be the x-factor on Thursday night.

The leaders for the Wild starts with Kirill Kaprizov with 63 points in 52 games, followed by Joel Eriksson Ek with 54 points in 59 games. They have a pretty deep group of forwards who all chip in offensively, with six players in double digit goals. The Predators have seven double-digit goal scorers.

The starting goalies haven't been officially announced yet. The Predators will most likely go back to Juuse Saros with backup Kevin Lankinen most recently starting against the Ducks on February 25.

The Wild's primary starter has been Filip Gustavsson, but they also have the option to go with Marc-Andre Fleury who has started 24 games this season.

The all-time series has been controlled by the Predators with a 45-28-9 head-to-head record along with five ties. Roman Josi has 35 points in 42 games against Minnesota, and Filip Forsberg has 30 points in 32 career games against Minnesota.

There's only four games left before the March 8 trade deadline, and if the Predators can continue their winning ways past Minnesota tonight then General Manager Barry Trotz will have to seriously consider how he's going to sell without damaging the team's overall chemistry.