The Minnesota Wild go on the road for the first time this year to take on the Nashville Predators in Music City for the Preds home opener. With the wounds still raw from Ryan Suter leaving Nashville for Minnesota, that factor alone makes this a game worth watching. Add to the mix that for the first time in franchise history, the Wild appear to be more focused on their offensive play than their defensive play while Nashville is playing more like the old-look Wild of years past focusing more of their game on their defense, which in my opinion is stalwart, and you have what makes for a good contest.

On offense, the Preds are strongest down the middle with their centers Mike Fisher, David Legwand, Matt Cullen and Paul Gaustad. Free agent acquisition Viktor Stalberg is on the injured reserve with an upper-body injury and most likely will not play. The Preds defense is led by Shea Weber, Roman Josi and freshly acquired first round draft pick Seth Jones. They are anchored in goal by Pekka Rinne.

In order to compete tonight, the Preds must limit the Wild’s scoring opportunities, especially on the power play, in an effort to keep this a low scoring affair where they can squeak out a win. In their first two games of the year, both of which were played on the road, Nashville lost 4-2 to St. Louis and 3-1 to Colorado. The Preds appear to start slow, having allowed 4 first period goals against versus 1 goal for in the first period so far this young season. Then again, the Wild have allowed 3 first period goals in their first two games with the only difference being that the Wild have also scored 3 first period goals so far this season. The Preds are 2 goals for and 2 goals against in the second period, while the Wild are 1 goal for and 1 goal against in the second period. In the third period, the Preds have allowed 1 goal and scored none, whereas the Wild have scored 1 and allowed 1, as third period goals for and goals against are concerned. From a shots per period standpoint, the Wild have registered their most shots in the second period (30) and allowed the least amount of shots in the third period (11) while the Preds have put on net 22 shots in the first period as their hight and 16 shots in the second period as their low. The Wild average 31 shots per game while the Preds average 28.5, but keep in mind the Wild have played the extra overtime period both games too (only to register 2 shots total). On the power play, the Wild are 3 for 9 while the Preds are 0 for 7. On the penalty kill, both clubs have allowed 2 goals each (on 6 attempts against the Wild; on 9 attempts against the Preds). 5 on 5, both teams have 1 less goal for than against (Minn: 2 for and 3 against; Nash: 3 for and 4 against). Overall, the Wild have 5 goals for on the season and 6 against while the Preds only have 3 goals for and 7 against.

Perhaps this season, more than others, will be the end of long-standing home dominance by Nashville. They have been one of the NHL’s best teams on home ice since the beginning of the 2005-06 season, registering the 4th most home wins and being the only team in the NHL to post at least 23 home victories in 7 consecutive seasons. Dating back to December 31, 2010, the Preds are 7-1-2 against the Wild and have won 5 of the last 6 on home ice against the Wild dating back to March 18, 2010. All-time against the Preds, the Wild are 20-20-7, but only 7-12-4 in Music City. 6 of the last 7 contests between these 2 teams have been decided by 1 goal and the last 3 games in Nashville between the Wild and the Preds have been decided in the shootout. Last season, the Wild won the season series 2-1-0. However, this season the 2 clubs are divisional opponents and will see much more of oneanother.

In goal, we will most likely see Backstrom for the Wild versus Rinne for the Preds. Backstrom is 9-5-1 with a 2.56 goals against average and a .912 save percentage in 15 games (13 starts) against Nashville. Rinne is 8-3-2 with a 2.09 goals against average and a .921 save percentage and 3 shutouts in 14 games (12 starts) against Minnesota.

The game within the game for me will be the face-offs. The Preds rank 7th in team face-off win percentage this season (54.2%). The Preds are led in the face-off circle by 4th line center Paul Gaustad. Gaustad is 77.8% in face-off efficiency through 2 games and has ranked in the NHL’s Top 10 in each of the last 4 seasons. Minnesota, however, ranks 1st in the NHL in face-off win percentage (63.7%), nearly 8% more than any other team. 4th line center, Zenon Konopka, has won 10 of 13 draws this season (76.9%) while Kyle Brodziak has won 21 of 30 (70%) and Mikko Koivu is 34 of 51 (66.7%). Konopka holds the distinction of ranking first among all NHL players with a 59% career face-off win percentage.

So there you have it for tonight’s first of many Central Division face-offs when the Wild take on the Preds in Nashville. Who wins and why? What score do you predict? I say Wild win 3-1 with an empty net goal at the end of the game. What say you?

UPDATE: After reading "Russo's Rants", there is speculation that Josh Harding may start in net for the Wild. Harding is 4-5-1 with a 2.88 goals against average and a .906 save percentage in 10 starts.

Also, after seeing all of the positive stats on Konopka, let me take the opportunity to publicly admit that I was wrong when I indicated that, perhaps, the Wild should let Konopka go in favor of keeping a guy like Zucker. My bad. However, if you need to move bodies, what about Rupp? Aging veteran, currently injured. Not knowing alot about Rupp, why is he more important to the Wild line up than a young gun like Zucker?

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