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Preds stay hot with home win over Wild

Jan 12, 2011 - 3:56 AM Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Nick Spaling scored twice as Nashville kept rolling with a 5-1 win over Minnesota at Bridgestone Arena.

Marcel Goc and Joel Ward both had a goal and an assist while David Legwand also tallied for the Predators, who have reeled off six straight wins. Pekka Rinne stopped 25 shots in the win.

Mikko Koivu scored the lone goal for the Wild, who have dropped their past two after winning their previous four. Jose Theodore was pulled in the third period after giving up four goals on 25 shots. Anton Khudobin stopped 4-of-5 shots the rest of the way.

Nashville got on the board 7:03 into the game when a give-and-go between Marek Svatos and Legwand was finished when Svatos sent a pass from the left point to the front where Legwand tipped it in.

Minnesota tied the game at the 16:05 mark of the first as Koivu made a move from the left circle to the front where he flung a backhand past Rinne.

The Predators took a 2-1 lead 62 seconds into the second as Kevin Klein threw a shot on net from the high slot that was stopped, but Ward was there to backhand home the rebound.

Rinne stopped 12 shots in the middle frame to keep Nashville ahead heading to the final period.

Spaling scored 4:18 into the third period when his wrister beat Theodore for a 3-1 lead.

Spaling notched his fourth goal of the season with 9:21 to play when he tipped in a Shea Weber shot and Goc scored on Khudobin just over two minutes later for a 5-1 advantage.

Game Notes

The Predators play in Florida on Thursday...Minnesota hosts Colorado on Friday...Nashville has taken two of the three games with Minnesota this season...The Preds have outscored their opponents, 24-7, during the winning streak...Neither team scored on the power play with Nashville having two chances and Minnesota three.