Will the real Predators please stand up?

The Predators still find themselves searching for consistency as coach Barry Trotz works with his offensive lines and his defensive pairings in an effort to find the best combinations.

Their 3-1-1 record in their last five games is deceiving on some levels. This is a team that is all about discipline and accountability when it is playing well. It takes a total team effort, something they got against Buffalo.

Home ice has been the biggest problem for the Predators of late. They are back home again Thursday night against Colorado. It will be interesting to see if they can keep themselves out of penalty problems at home, something they've been good at on the road.

The Minnesota Wild made the Nashville Predators' stellar penalty-killers look pretty average. Mikko Koivu scored two goals and added an assist and Minnesota scored five times on power plays in a 6-2 victory over Nashville on Saturday night. The Predators entered with the NHL's best home penalty-killing percentage at 89.5, but they couldn't stop the Wild when they had an advantage.

Ryan Suter made sure the Nashville Predators left Atlanta with two points -- for a change. The defenseman knocked down a lead pass from Shea Weber and beat Johan Hedberg on a breakaway 1:44 into overtime to give the Predators a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Friday night. "It was a smart play," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said.

Chris Mason made his return to Nashville a night to remember. Playing in front of a Predators home crowd for the first time since being traded to the St. Louis Blues in June, Mason earned his first shutout of the season. He stopped 47 shots through overtime and then stopped Rich Peverley and Ville Koistinen in the shootout to give the Blues a 1-0 win Tuesday night.

Shea Weber helped the Nashville Predators to a big lead, then scored the goal that eliminated any chance of a stunning comeback by the Carolina Hurricanes. Weber scored his second goal with a straightaway shot midway through the third period, answering the homestanding Hurricanes' final-period flurry and helping the Predators take a 5-2 win on Sunday.

Rick Tocchet finally got into the win column after two tough losses. Vincent Lecavalier had two goals to help Tocchet, Tampa Bay's interim coach, get his first NHL victory in the Lightning's 4-1 win over Nashville on Friday night. "It's great," Tocchet said. "It's like scoring your first NHL goal. The last couple games and how hard we worked, it was nice to get the win." Mark Recchi and Vinny Prospal...