Predators Prepared for 'Mischief' in Game vs. Wild after L'Heureux Suspension

When the Minnesota Wild face off against the Nashville Predators Saturday at Bridgestone Arena, they will be without their captain, Jared Spurgeon – and they haven't forgotten why.

Predators forward Zachary L'Heureux was issued a match penalty and eventually suspended three games for slew-footing Spurgeon during Minnesota's game against Nashville on Dec. 31. Spurgeon suffered a lower-body injury on the play and hasn't played since.

As the two teams prepare to face each other for the first time since the incident, Wild veteran Marcus Foligno hinted that there could be retribution.

"When you see a guy cheap-shotted, that stuff needs to be answered for," Foligno said earlier this week (via The Athletic's Michael Russo and Joe Smith). "The L'Heureux thing is blatant, trying to hurt a guy. We got into the boards so many times with D-men. You just guide them in. It's not the '80s or '90s where you can get away with anything on the forecheck. They've got a lot of guys on Nashville that understand the code, and the young kid doesn't understand. It's frustrating. There will be a price to pay for that game. I'm sure he'll have to answer to someone."

Related: Predators, L'Heureux Must Prepare for Vengeance vs. Wild on Saturday

"I mean, obviously they're frustrated with what happened to their captain, as we would be," McCarron said. "I don’t know, Foligno has been around a long time. I think he knows something has to be done. But they can say everything they want. We have guys in here that'll protect our team, and [Zach’s] not too shy himself. I mean, he's a physical player."

L'Heureux has frequently come under fire for his disciplinary history, racking up nine suspensions in the QMJHL and two in the AHL. Since his arrival in the NHL, however, McCarron said L'Heureux's play has been anything but dirty.

"It's an unfortunate event, I would say, and it just so happened that it hurt a guy," McCarron said. "I don't think he means to do it. His resume may say he's a dirty player, but I've been around him quite a long time and I don’t think he's necessarily a dirty player. I think he just plays really hard. And it’s unfortunate that that happened, and also unfortunate what was said. I mean, obviously they want to seek retribution in some way. But like I said, we have guys on our team that will protect our teammates, and it should be a good one tonight."

Comments like Foligno's do little to rattle veteran players, McCarron said. But with L'Heureux being a first-year player in this league, his teammates are wary of how a situation like this may affect him.

"I would say maybe it might affect a younger player like Zach," McCarron said. "I think he may be thinking about it a little bit. But, I mean, there's been some talks in here, like I just said, we have guys that are that are going to stick up for him, and he can stick up for himself, too. He’s a tough little player."

The rivalry between Minnesota and Nashville has been rife with physical, tightly contested games, and McCarron would expect Saturday's game to be no different, even if Foligno hadn't made the comments he did."

"I don't think it really affects veteran players," McCarron said. "I think, you know, usually, when something like that happens, you've got to answer the bell. I think Zach knows that. I think he's ready to go tonight. And it's not like he's going to have to fight a heavyweight like Foligno, but you know, he might have guys come after him, and he's more than willing to protect himself. I don't know, it's the Wild and Preds game. There's always, always some sort of mischief going on... just like every other Wild and Preds hame, I’d say."

The puck drops between Nashville and Minnesota Saturday at 7 p.m. CT at Bridgestone Arena.

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