Nashville @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 15, 2018 ) Minnesota 2, Nashville 4

The Nashville Predators are in the midst of a funk as they've lost three of their last four games, with the lone victory coming in a shootout. Nashville attempts to right the ship and salvage the finale of its three-game road trip when it visits the Minnesota Wild on Sunday for the opener of their home-and-home set.

The Predators have scored a total of five goals over their last four contests, with three coming in Friday's loss at Winnipeg. Viktor Arvidsson netted his team-leading 27th tally in that setback, which dropped Nashville one point behind the Jets for first place in the Central Division. Minnesota used a three-goal third period in Calgary on Saturday to record its fifth consecutive victory, a 4-2 triumph over the Flames. With leading scorer Zach Parise back home with an undisclosed ailment, defenseman Ryan Suter registered a goal and an assist in the win as the Wild remained one point behind Dallas for the first wild card in the Western Conference and one ahead of Arizona for the second spot.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (37-25-5): Ryan Johansen, who leads the team with 54 points, was kept off the scoresheet for six straight games before notching an assist against Winnipeg. The 26-year-old center has matched his point total from last season and is four away from 400 for his career. Mikael Granlund made his team debut on Friday after being acquired from Minnesota four days earlier and registered an assist to record 50 points for the third consecutive season.

ABOUT THE WILD (32-27-6): Eric Staal recently ended a lengthy slump and now is looking to extend his point streak to a season-high six games. The 34-year-old center, who signed a two-year contract extension early in the week, was kept off the scoresheet for nine straight contests but has collected two goals and five assists over his last five. Ryan Donato has notched at least one point in each of his five games since being acquired from Boston, collecting two goals and five assists during his streak.

OVERTIME

1. Predators RW Wayne Simmonds has failed to record a point in two games since being obtained from Philadelphia and enters Sunday with a six-game drought.

2. Parise, who leads the team with 54 points, has registered a goal and four assists during a four-game streak.

3. Nashville D Roman Josi needs one goal to match the career high of 15 he scored in 2014-15.

PREDICTION: Predators 4, Wild 1