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Predators eyeing fourth straight win vs. Wild

Feb 6, 2009 - 11:22 AM Nashville (24-24-3) at Minnesota (26-21-3), 8:00 pm EST

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- The Nashville Predators are finding out winning is contagious.

The Predators will seek a season-best fourth consecutive victory Friday, when they visit the Minnesota Wild.

Jason Arnott scored a goal and set up another and Pekka Rinne made 28 saves during Thursday's 4-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Ryan Jones, Martin Erat and Vernon Fiddler also tallied for Nashville, which has won four of five.

"Losing is contagious, but so is winning," Jones said. "You win a couple of games and, all of a sudden, the mood in the room changes and the guys really start to believe in each other."

Rinne has started in each of the three victories, but Dan Ellis will likely be back in the crease against the Wild. Ellis, who hasn't recorded a win since December 26, is 10-16-3 with 2.92 goals-against average and two shutouts this season.

The Wild also defeated the Ducks in their last game, cruising to a 3-0 victory behind Niklas Backstrom's sixth shutout of the season.

Backstrom made 34 saves, while Andrew Brunette, Mikko Koivu and Pierre-Marc Bouchard each recorded a goal and an assist for Minnesota, which will be without right wing Owen Nolan for a second straight contest.

The 36-year-old Nolan, who is nursing a back injury, has collected 12 goals and 21 points on the campaign.