(Sports Network) - A pivotal battle in the Western Conference playoff race is on tap tonight in St. Paul, as the Minnesota Wild welcome the Nashville Predators for a battle at Xcel Energy Center.

The Predators won in Detroit on Thursday to move into a three-way tie with St. Louis and Anaheim for the Western Conference's final two postseason berths. The three clubs are knotted at 88 points, but the Blues and Ducks each have a game in hand to use tonight. St. Louis is hosting Columbus, while Anaheim is at home against Dallas.

Minnesota is in even more of a desperate situation than Nashville as it's three points behind the Ducks, Blues and Predators with two games left. The Wild need to win their final two games and hope for regulation losses from Anaheim and St. Louis in their final two games.

Tonight marks the final regular season game for the Predators, who are coming off Thursday's dramatic win in the Motor City. Joel Ward scored the equalizer with 59.3 seconds left in regulation and Jason Arnott had the deciding goal in the shootout, as Nashville stayed in the playoff race with a key 4-3 win over Detroit.

Arnott finished with a goal and assist for the Predators, who have won two of three, with both victories coming in a shootout. Scott Nichol also lit the lamp, while Pekka Rinne made 23 saves.

Nashville is just 16-20-4 as the guest this year.

The Wild have won two of their last three games and are coming off Tuesday's victory over visiting Dallas.

Niklas Backstrom stopped 27 shots and Eric Belanger netted the eventual winning score in the second period, as Minnesota topped the Stars, 3-1, at Xcel Energy Center.

Marian Gaborik had a goal and two assists while Owen Nolan also tallied for the Wild. Gaborik has recorded a goal in each of his last five games and has eight points (5 goals, 3 assists) over that stretch.

Tonight marks the final home test of the regular season for Minnesota, which is 22-11-7 as the host this season. The Wild will complete their schedule Saturday in Columbus.

Nashville has taken two of three from the Wild this year, but Minnesota has still won six of nine overall in the series. The Predators are just 2-8 with a pair of ties in their last 12 games in St. Paul.