Minnesota took it 3-1 in Nashville, and the game was effectively framed in the first period, when the Wild scored twice before the home side had registered anything on the board. Nashville got one back but never drew level, and the result was settled in regulation.
Nick Foligno opened it in the 10th minute off a Olli Maatta feed, and Blake Coleman made it 0-2 in the 14th with Danila Yurov assisting. Roman Josi pulled the Predators within one at 30 minutes, set up by Steven Stamkos, but Kirill Kaprizov restored the two-goal cushion in the 45th — the turning point that took the comeback off the table.
Kaprizov's goal, assisted by Quinn Hughes, was the game's decisive marker. For Nashville, Josi's strike was the lone answer across 60 minutes: one goal, three periods, two of them scoreless.