Predators beat Wild 5-4 to move into first place in Central Division

Ryan Johansen scored the winner in the fourth round of the shootout as the Nashville Predators defeated the visiting Minnesota Wild 5-4 Tuesday to move into first place in the Central Division. Craig Smith, Brian Boyle, Roman Josi and Victor Arvidsson scored in regulation for the Predators, who swept the home-and-home series after beating the Wild 3-2 in a shootout Sunday in Minnesota. Goaltender Pekka Rinne made 29 saves plus stopped all four Wild attempts in the shootout.

Minnesota's Kevin Fiala scored twice in his return to Nashville after being dealt last week at the trading deadline. Pontus Aberg and Eric Fehr also scored for the Wild, which extended their points streak to a season-high seven games, and goalie Devan Dubnyk stopped 21 shots. Smith opened the scoring for Nashville just 1:48 into the first period. Dubnyk stopped Matt Donovan's shot from the point, but the long rebound went to the top of the slot, where Smith hammered it home with a one-timer.

Fiala tied the score at 15:25, forcing a turnover at the Predators' blue line and deking around a defender before unleashing a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle that beat Rinne. Boyle gave the Predators a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal at 13:38 of the second. The Wild tied it at 17:49 of the period as Aberg took a drop pass from Jordan Greenway and beat Rinne from between the top of the faceoff circles.

Minnesota took its first lead on Fehr's goal 2:25 into the third. Marcus Foligno sent a pass from behind the net to Fehr in the high slot, and he scored on a one-timer. Josi tied the score just 34 seconds later, skating the puck around the top of the faceoff circles and down the right wing before slipping it past Dubnyk.

Arvidsson gave the Predators a 4-3 lead at 8:21 of the third, gaining the puck at center ice and skating down the right wing before sneaking a shot just under Dubnyk's right arm. Fiala tied it at 17:42 with Dubnyk pulled for an extra attacker. Eric Staal won a faceoff in the Nashville end, and the puck found its way to Fiala, who roofed a shot from the top of the circle.

(With inputs from agencies.)