Minnesota at Nashville

Minnesota finished last season 46-24-12, and Nashville 38-34-10, an 18-point gap in the standings, and both teams open their new season tonight. Minnesota scored 272 goals and allowed 240, which put it 32 goals ahead of its opponents. Nashville scored 247 and allowed 269, which left it 22 goals behind. Minnesota opens without defenseman Brock Faber, who had 51 points and averaged 24:40 a game last season and is on injured reserve, and without goalie Filip Gustavsson, who is on injured reserve after offseason hip surgery. Jesper Wallstedt is expected to start in his place, and he posted a .916 save percentage in 35 games last season, 33 of them starts, compared with .904 for Gustavsson in 50. Nashville is expected to go with Juuse Saros, who finished last season at .894 over 59 starts. More of the money than of the tickets is on Minnesota. Minnesota is the right side tonight.