{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Minnesota 4, Nashville 2
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 9, 2015
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees: Dan O'Rourke, Jean Hebert
Linesmen: Brian Mach, Ryan Galloway
Attendance: 17236

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Owners of a freshly clinched playoff spot, the Minnesota Wild rested the goalie who carried them there and their top three goal scorers Thursday night.

However, it still wasn't enough for the Nashville Predators to snap what is now a five-game losing streak.

Right winger Jason Pominville scored the tiebreaking goal at 17:57 of the third period as Minnesota won its 12th consecutive road game, dumping Nashville 4-2 at sold-out Bridgestone Arena.

Left winger Jason Zucker sealed the victory with an empty-net tally at 19:00 of the final period, his second goal of the game, as the Wild (46-27-8) reached 100 points for the season. Their road winning streak ties the mark of the 2005-06 Detroit Red Wings for the longest in NHL history.

The Predators (47-24-10) saw their Central Division title hopes end with the St. Louis Blues' 2-1 win over the Chicago, but they still clinched home ice for their first-round playoff series against the Blackhawks or the Wild.

Goalie Darcy Kuemper (14-12-2) made 32 saves for Minnesota, and Nashville's Pekka Rinne (41-17-6) stopped 23 shots.

Nashville scored the first goal for the ninth straight game as center Filip Forsberg ripped a 40-foot slapper from the right faceoff circle past Kuemper, making his first start since Jan. 6, at 2:48 of the first period.

Defenseman Seth Jones doubled the Predators' lead at 10:29 of the first with a wrister from just inside the blue line, his eighth goal of the season.

Minnesota evened the score up with two goals in a 31-second span late in the second period. Zucker tallied his 20th on the power play at 17:12, courtesy of right winger Justin Fontaine's assist.

Defenseman Marco Scandella delivered the equalizer with a spin move and a forehand that snuck just under the crossbar for his 10th goal.

NOTES: Minnesota G Devan Dubnyk's streak of 39 straight starts ended Thursday night. It was the longest run of its kind in the NHL since Evgeni Nabakov started 43 consecutive games for San Jose in 2007-08. ... Nashville signed KHL forward Steve Moses to a one-year contract Thursday. Moses set the league record this season with 36 goals in 60 games for Jokerit (Helsinki, Finland), helping it win 40 games. ... Wild RW Nino Niederreiter (foot) was scratched Thursday night, along with LW Zach Parise and LW Thomas Vanek. ... Predators LW Eric Nystrom (lower-body injury) sat out his 16th straight game.
Top Game Performances
 
Minnesota   Nashville
Jason Zucker 2 Points Filip Forsberg 1
Jason Zucker 2 Goals Filip Forsberg 1
Matt Cooke 1 Assists Mike Santorelli 1
Jason Zucker 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Darcy Kuemper .941 Save Percentage Pekka Rinne .885
Darcy Kuemper 32 Saves Pekka Rinne 23
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Minnesota 27 4 1-1 2-2 6 34
Nashville 34 2 0-2 0-1 4 25
Upcoming Games
  • Nashville will play their next game on the road against Dallas. The Predators have a W/L % of .553 after a win and .618 after a loss.
  • Minnesota will play their next game on the road against St. Louis. The Wild have a W/L % of .587 after a win and .543 after a loss.