The Nashville Predators lost their first three games of 2006-07, but since claiming their first win of the season against Phoenix on Oct. 14, no team can top the Preds' 17-2-3 mark for wins or winning percentage (.841) in that stretch. Nashville had won six of its last seven games before dropping a surprising 4-3 decision at home to struggling Chicago on Saturday. The Predators, who have averaged 4.6 goals a game over their last five contests, will try to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since their 0-3 start. They may be encouraged knowing their next opponent is the team against which they began their 17-2-3 surge. The Predators will be in Phoenix Monday night, in pursuit of their eighth win in the last nine matchups with the Coyotes. Although the Coyotes have won three of their last four contests, they face a balanced Nashville attack that features 10 players with 15 or more points. The hottest Predator is Scott Hartnell, who has tallied five goals and three assists in Nashville's last five games. He also happens to have three goals and seven points in his last six appearances against Phoenix. Hartnell has surprised with 10 goals in his first 25 games this season, and he's nearly halfway to his career high of 25 in 2005-06. For now, the biggest concern may be goaltending, as starter Tomas Vokoun is expected to miss 4-6 weeks after tearing ligaments in his thumb a week ago. Chris Mason has been a solid alternative for Nashville, going 6-1-2 in his nine starts. He's 18-6-3 in support of Vokoun over the last two seasons, with a 2.61 goals-against average and .915 save percentage that nearly match Vokoun's marks over this stretch. Can the Predators hang tight with Detroit through Vokoun's injury, and might they dethrone the Red Wings as Central Division champs in the spring? They currently look like serious contenders for a division title.