Wild 2, Predators 1 (OT): Devin Setoguchi scored a power-play goal 4:21 into overtime as host Minnesota ended a three-game losing streak.
Shortly after Niklas Backstrom denied defenseman Ryan Ellis with a sprawling save in overtime, Paul Gaustad received a delay-of-game penalty off a faceoff to send the Wild on the power play. Setoguchi made the Predators pay for the infraction by accepting a feed from captain Mikko Koivu and unleashing a sizzling one-timer that got past Chris Mason for his first goal of the season.
Cal Clutterbuck also scored and former Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter assisted on both goals. Backstrom turned aside 25 shots for the Wild, who have registered only five goals over their last four contests.
Gaustad netted his first goal of the season and Mason finished with 30 saves for the Predators, who fell to the Wild for just the second time in nine outings.
Gaustad opened the scoring midway through the first period by cleaning up a rebound after Craig Smith's two failed attempts. Clutterbuck forged a 1-1 tie with 7:01 remaining in the second, deflecting Suter's wrist shot from the point for his second of the season.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Wild RW Dany Heatley, who is mired in a six-game goal-scoring drought, failed to find the net for the first time in six contests versus Nashville. ... Mason has made only two starts this season - both against Minnesota. He stopped 29 shots in a 3-1 win on Jan. 22. ... Smith's assist on Gaustad's goal was his first point of the season.
Nashville | Minnesota | |
Paul Gaustad 1 | Points | Ryan Suter 2 |
Paul Gaustad 1 | Goals | Cal Clutterbuck 1 |
Craig Smith 1 | Assists | Ryan Suter 2 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Devin Setoguchi 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Chris Mason .938 | Save Percentage | Niklas Backstrom .962 |
Chris Mason 30 | Saves | Niklas Backstrom 25 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Nashville | 26 | 1 | 0-6 | 3-4 | 12 | 29 |
Minnesota | 32 | 2 | 1-4 | 6-6 | 16 | 37 |