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St. Paul, MN - After  ferocious start for Minnesota, the Nashville Predators weathered a Wild storm and captured a 3-1 win Tuesday night at the Xcel Energy Center. It was the first meeting between the Wild and Predators since Ryan Suter changed uniforms this past summer.  Nashville picked up their first win of the season, and in three games have not lost in regulation as they are 1-0-2.    

Just 6:02 in the first period, the Wild to connected for the 1-0 lead as Dany Heatley deflected a shot from Zach Parise past Predator goaltender Chris Mason for the 1-0 lead and they made the start look pretty easy.  The experienced Predators, who have been to the Stanley Cup Playoffs 7 of the last 8 seasons had none of it and executed a terrific road game effort.

Gabriel Bourque busted in on a breakaway only to be stopped by Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom.  The Wild netminder wasn't so fortunate the next time the Predators worked the offensive zone as Nick Spaling tied the game at a goal apiece as he rapped home a rebound from Kevin Klien.  

The dual continued in the third period until the Predators capitalized on a play that  that went bad for the Wild.  As Minnesota worked the puck low Parise was trying to hit defenseman Jared Spurgeon with a pass to the right point however, the Wild defenseman was covered by Martin Erat who deflected the puck away.  

Parise explained there was a cross up between he and Spurgeon leading to the deflected puck.  "I tried to give it up to the point there to Spuregon," Parise said. "I kind of misread what he was doing.  He was jumping in and I anticipated him staying back, so a little mistake there on my part and Backy hit the guy, and that happens."

That situation became worse as he puck rolled up on end and wobbled into the Wild zone.  Backstrom went to play it to his right in the high slot and the puck was cleared into the midsection of Erat who took the gift and walked down low to the open Wild net as the Minnesota defense led by Jared Spurgeon and Backstrom  chased him down to the net with no avail.  Erat tucked it home for his 2nd goal of the season half way through the third period.  

"Maybe I should have stayed in the net for a breakaway," Backstrom said.  "But, I got to the puck and I have to get it out."

Finishing has been an issue for the Wild the past two games as they hung on for the 1-0 lead against Dallas this past Sunday and Chris Mason was tough to beat.  The chances and effort were there which is an encouraging sign for the Wild.  As the third period waned, one had the feeling there is plenty of talent to find the back of the net.  

"We need to do a little more on the offensive part, get more pucks on the net, but that will come" Parise said.

It wasn't to be on this night as the Wild were mounting a last ditch six on five effort, Pierre-Marc Bouchard was whistled for a slashing penalty with :23 left in the third period.  The Preds connected quickly on their power play as David Legwand scored to finish Minnesota.  

When asked after the game if it was a relief to get the game with his former team out of the way, Suter shrugged it off and said, "For me, it wasn't that big of a deal.  The media makes it more than it is.  I still have friends over there but I have friends on a lot of teams and you have to go out and play hard against them.  Unfortunately, they were the better team.  

Minnesota takes it to the road and will work to be the better team as they battle the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on Friday night.