Predators Can't Finish, Fall to the Stars 5-2

The Nashville Predators traveled to Dallas looking to rebound from a lackluster effort the night before in a tough contest with the Stars.

This game would be a good measuring stick for the Predators, not only to see how they would rebound from a bad game but also how they would stack up against the best team in the West.

The Predators would be found wanting.

Ryan Ellis opened the scoring with a short handed goal, a blast past Kari Lehtonen to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.

The Stars would tie the game as the Predators defense completely broke down and lost the Stars Jamie Benn coming over the boards. Benn was sent in on a breakaway and he beat Pekka Rinne 5 hole to tie the game at 1.

The second period saw the Predators crumble, giving up 2 goals in 46 seconds. Radek Faksa scored, beating Ryan Johansen back on defense for an easy tap in. Jason Spezza scored on a shot from the slot to give the Stars a 3-1 lead.

Once again, the Predators had dug a huge hole.

The Predators answered on the power play as Viktor Arvidsson, filling in for the injured Ryan Ellis and getting his first meaningful power play action of the year, blew a shot past Lehtonen to make it 3-2.

A furious rally by the Predators in the third period that saw them hit 3 posts went for naught, as the Stars Patrick Sharp and Jamie Benn hit empty net goals to secure a 5-2 win.


Some observations:

• Mini-me...uh, Ryan Ellis is a small defenseman, but wow, he can crank a slap shot. He absolutely stepped into one to blow the puck past Kari Lehtonen. Ellis is going to lose the physical match up against the bigger, heavy forwards, but he makes up for it with good hockey sense and that aforementioned wickedly hard shot.
• Paul Gaustad returned to the line up after missing 10 games. He skated on the left wing of a line centered by Colton Sissons. folks, enjoy Gaustad's last few games with the Predators. He has been a good soldier, but he will not be back next season.
• What a horrible defensive breakdown by Ellis and Barret Jackman. Completely unaware of the Stars players coming over the boards. Oh yeah, that Stars player coming over the board just happened to be their most dangerous forward, Jamie Benn. Of course, that mistake resulted in a Benn breakaway goal.
• The Predators lost Ellis in the first period as he went down after taking a shot to the head. He played one more shift after the injury and then did not return.
• I continue to like the play of Arvidsson. There is no doubt that the Aardvark has to get strong, but goodness, he has to have one of the biggest hearts on this team. He jumped in and played very well on the power play, not looking out of place at all.
• The push by the Predators in the third period was excellent. The finish was lacking. If the Predators had some puck luck with the post, the outcome might have been different. Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

The Predators brief lapse in the second period cost them another game. This team is good, but against a quality opponent they are not good enough to overcome those lapses.

Let's face it, the remainder of the season is not going to be a cakewalk. This team is going to have to buck up and start playing a full 60 minutes.

Don't back into the playoffs, boys.

My three stars:

1. Jamie Benn

2. Viktor Arvidsson

3. Alex Goligoski

Predators Slam the Stars 5-3

The Nashville Predators continued their torrid play of late, demolishing the Dallas Stars 5-3 at Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators have recorded a point in 10 straight games, tying a team record. The Predators are 7-0-3 in their last 10 games.

The Predators got on the board first as Craig Smith tallied his 15th goal of the season from the top of the crease, beating Antti Niemi, who could not control the rebound.

The Stars would tie the game just 10 seconds later as Antoine Roussel would beat Anthony Bitetto off the boards to stuff the puck between Pekka Rinne's skate and the post.

The teams would head into intermission tied at 1 but with the talented Stars holding a decided territorial and shot advantage.

That would change in the second period as the Predators would light up Niemi for 3 goals and chase him from the game.

Calle Jarnkrok showed some amazing hands to re-direct a James Neal Shot past Niemi to make it 2-1.

Shea Weber unleashed a blast from the blue line that Niemi is still looking for to make it 3-1. Weber's power play goal was his 16th of the season.

Mattias Ekholm slid a backhander past Niemi to end his night and make it 4-1 for the Predators.

The Stars cut the lead to 4-2 late in the second period with a 5 on 3 power play goal by Jason Spezza.

In the third period, James Neal extended the lead to 5-2 with a shot placed short side between the pads of Kari Lehtonen.

Vern fiddler would end the scoring with a goal from the point through traffic for the final margin of 5-3.

Some observations:

• The Predators welcomed back Shea Weber, who had missed the last 3 games with a lower body injury. Weber lasered a blast from the blue line that just blew past Niemi for a goal. He also picked up 2 assists on the night. He laso unleashed a blast from the face off circle that caused a brief delay as the shot hit Lehtonen in the...uh...man parts. Lehtonen stayed in the game but was in obvious discomfort. It is no wonder that opponents don't want to get in front of Weber's shot when he loads it up.
• Weber's goal tonight gives him 162 for his career. he is one goal away from tying Martin Erat (163) for second all time for the Predators. Weber has 182 points on the power play (78G-104A) to tie Kimmo Timmonen for first all time in power play points.
• Balanced scoring and contributions from throughout the line up, and that is what it takes to win games in this league. The Predators forwards were flying on the forecheck and had good break outs that created some scoring chances. As Ryan Johansen said after the game, this team is getting a sense of swagger and it shows.
• This was the 12th time this season that the Predators have scored 5 or more goals.
• Craig Smith has been playing some very good hockey lately. He is moving his feet, going to the front of the net, and battling in tough areas for the puck. And he has been rewarded for his efforts. He has 9 points (4G-5A) in his last 11 games.
• The Predators are 6-1-2 in their last 9 home games against the Stars. The last time the Stars won in regulation in Bridgestone Arena was April 12, 2013.
• The Predators were 53% in the face off circle.

A strong game by the Predators against a very good Stars team. A balanced attack and, for the most, some solid defense led to this win. Even though Rinne gave up 3 goals, I can't fault him on the 5 on 3 marker and the Fiddler goal through traffic. His confident play has flowed through this squad and it is translating to wins on the ice.

In the ultra competitive West, the Predators will need to keep it rolling.

My three stars:

1. Shea Weber

2. James Neal

3. Craig Smith

Weber's Two Goals Leads the Predators Past the Stars

On a frigid night in Nashville, the action inside the Bridgestone Arena was heated between the Predators and the Dallas Stars. The Predators were attempting to win their third straight game over their Central Division rivals while the Stars were looking to build on the momentum of 4 wins in their last 6 games.

The Predators prevailed 3-2 in overtime, with Shea Weber scoring just 17 seconds into the extra frame. The game winner was Weber's second goal of the night.

The game never should have gotten to overtime, as Filip Forsberg scored with just over three minutes to go in regulation. Craig Smith was tied up with Stars netminder Kari Lehtonen and prevented him from getting over to defend the shot. Referee Paul Devorsky was emphatic that Smith had been cross checked into Lehtonen and it was a good goal. However, the officials huddled and waved off the goal with no clear explanation given.

The Predators got on the board first as Shea Weber took a drop pass from Mike Ribeiro and blasted a shot from inside the blue line that went through Lehtonen to make it 1-0 (no, really, the shot looked like it went THROUGH Lehtonen).

The Stars tied it at 1 when Pekka Rinne failed to completely seal off the post and Jason Spezza fired a shot from a bad angle that went under Rinne's glove and into the net.

Making his first appearance in an NHL game, Miikka Salomaki took a long pass from Roman Josi an went in on a breakaway. Lehtonen stopped the first shot but Salomaki followed the rebound and lifted it over the pad of Lehtonen for his first NHL goal and a 2-1 Predators lead.

The Stars tied the game with 3 seconds left in the second when Trevor Daly pinched down from the blue line and no one on the Predators picked him up. He was alone at the side of the net and was able to put the puck into a nearly open net off a pass from Jamie Benn.

In the overtime, the Stars controlled the face off but turned it over in their zone. Colin Wilson got the puck across the ice to Shea Weber who let a wrist shot go that hit Lehtonen in the shoulder and flipped over and into the net for the game winner.

Some observations:

• With the win tonight, the Predators are first in the NHL with 58 points. Not the Central Division, but the NH freakin L. The Ducks also have 58 points but have played 2 more games than the Predators. Honestly, I did not see this coming. No one did. This team is playing with confidence and with the mentality that they are never out of a game. They have overcome bad calls, tough opponents, and now a spate of injuries. They just keep coming and refuse to roll over. I like the way this team plays and I like the way they carry themselves on the ice. They are quietly confident and playing at a high level. The test for them will be to continue to do so in the second half of the season.
• Speaking of those injuries, James Neal has now been placed on injured reserve. Eric Nystrom has also been added to IR. And tonight, Ryan Ellis left the game midway of the second period in obvious pain and did not return to the game. It looked as if he had an injury to his leg.
• Taylor Beck and Matt Cullen have been skating and look to be closer to returning. No timetable on their return has been given, though.
• With his assist on Weber's first goal, Roman Josi picked up his 100th NHL point. He later added an assist on Salomaki's goal. Josi is quietly becoming a defenseman that will have to be considered when discussing the top NHL blueliners.
• This was the 11th consecutive game in which the Predators have scored 3 or more goals. It used to be that when the Predators were discussed by the national media, it was always the "offensively challenged" Predators. No more.
• Miikka Salomaki had 10:49 of ice time, and even saw some action on the PK. He had 7 hits, 4 shots on goal, and one goal in his debut. He did not look out of place out there in his first NHL action. Good on you, young man.
• The game was a tight checking contest with lots of hitting. The Stars spent a lot of time grabbing and tripping with no calls. Kudos to the Predators for pushing through a muck and grind contest.
• The Predators were able to kill off all 3 power play chances by the Stars, and were very effective on the PK. The Predators power play...oh, the power play. 0-2 tonight and very few threats.
• Shea Weber led the Predators in TOI with 26:39
• Victor Bartley led the team with 4 blocked shots.
• The Predators are 16-2-1 on home ice, by far and away the best home record in the NHL.

This was a tough win against a hungry opponent that wanted badly to continue their positive momentum. The Predators refused to let injuries or bad calls deter them from their objective of getting these important 2 points.

The team gets back at with an afternoon  road meeting against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.This will be another hungry team that would like nothing more than to knock off the Predators.

Another big challenge awaits.

My three stars:

1. Shea Weber

2. Roman Josi

3. Miikka Salomaki

Predators Defeat the Stars 3-2 In Big D

The road trip continues for the Predators with a stop in Dallas to take on the division rival Stars. In their only other meeting this season the Predators captured a 4-1 win in Nashville.




Pekka Rinne was back in net for the Predators, while the Stars had Kari Lehtonen manning the crease.




After a scoreless first period, the Predators opened the second period scoring with two- count 'em, TWO- power play goals.




Craig Smith notched the first goal with a blast from the slot that beat Lehtonen glove side at 4!0 of the second period.




Filip Forsberg sniped a shot from the right face off circle high stick side to make it 2-0 at 13:57 of the second.




Immediately after the Predators misfired on a 2 on 1 rush, Stars defenseman carried the puck down the ice and through the Predators defense to beat Rinne low glove side to make it 2-1 at 16:26 of the second.




Rinne had to make some exceptional saves throughout the second period to keep the Stars from tying the game, including a point blank save late in the period off a turnover.


The Stars opened the third period putting pressure on the Predators and their effort paid off as Patrick Eaves tied the game off a goal mouth scramble where the Stars outmanned the Predators at the front of the net. Eaves shoveled the puck past Rinne at 7:23 of the third.


Matt Cullen responded for the Predators with a shot through traffic over the shoulder of Lehtonen at 13:47. This was Cullen's first goal of the year in his fifth game.


The Stars pulled Lehtonen for the extra attacker with 1:30 to go in the game, and although the Stars were swarming in the zone, Rinne and the skaters in front of him shut the door on the Stars to capture a 3-2 win.














Some observations:

• When the Predators are skating and playing with energy, they are a very good team. Not elite, but very good. When they are flatfooted or don't have jump, they can be downright ugly. Some stretches of the latter tonight.

• Calle Jarnkrok drew back into the line up tonight. he had been a healthy scratch the last 4 games.

• Colin Wilson just looks more engaged and energized. I have been critical of Wilson for getting bouts of Legwanditis (floating and not doing much), but he is skating hard and creating in the offensive zone. I like this and hope he continues to play this way.

• Craig Smith absolutely ripped a shot from the slot on the power play. Smith has a great shot, and it's good to see him potting some goals.

• Wow- Forsberg just picked the stick side corner for a power play goal. That was a goal scorer's goal. Excited to see how his game is developing, and he looks like he can turn into the legitimate scoring threat the Predators have so desperately needed.

• The chemistry that Cullen and Craig Smith have is very good. those two really work well on that line.

• Cullen had a seeing eye shot through traffic for the game winner. It seems to me that the Predators are doing a much better job of picking corners and not just shooting the puck into the belly of the opposing goaltender.

• A significant win as it came against a division rival. These divisional games are in reality 4 point games since we can put more distance against a competitor that is trying to gain ground on us.

• Strong game by Mattias Ekholm, who picked up two assists and had 4 shots on goal. Matty Ek is playing with more confidence and is developing into a solid blueliner.

• The Predators are 3-2 on through 5 games of this six game road trip.

• Rinne picked up his 8th win of the year, stopping 33 of 35 shots.

A big bounce back win by this team after their last outing, More importantly, they took the Stars best push and fought back to find a way to win.


These are the kinds of games this team will face in their division all season.


So far, they have shown they can compete and win these games.


My three stars:


1. Pekka Rinne


2. Mattias Ekholm


3. Matt Cullen

Predators Stopped By the Stars in a Shootout

The Nashville Predators are in desperation mode. Not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the Predators have to win out and get some help from teams in front of them.

Their first step in the process was to capture a win at the American Airlines Center against the Dallas Stars.

The Predators did not start well, looking sluggish to open the game and giving up a goal to Alex Goligoski at 2:23 of the first period. A defensive breakdown allowed Goligoski an open shot, and he took advantage of the miscue to blow a shot past Pekka Rinne.

Gabriel Bourque tied the game with a blast from the slot at 1:22 of the second period as he blasted a shot from the slot past Kari Lehtonen.

The Stars took a 2-1 lead at 8:18 of the second period as another defensive breakdown led to a Stars 2 on 1 break, and Jamie Benn capitalized.

Bourque tallied his second of the game at 10:24 of the third period as Paul Gaustad won a puck battle in the corner and snapped a pass to Bourque in the slot. Once again, Bourque stepped in a shot a beat Lehtonen to tie the game.

The Predators had to kill 1:38 of a two man advantage with Shea Weber and Victor Bartley in the box and did a great job on the penalty kill.

The remainder of regulation and overtime were scoreless, and so the Predators faced another shootout. In 10 shootouts this season, the Predators were 2-8.

And once again, the shootout was the nemesis for the Predators, as they lost in four rounds by a 2-1 margin. Roman Josi scored for the Predators, while Vernon fiddler and Tyler Seguin scored for the Stars.


Some observations:

• After a blowout in their last meeting, the Predators played a much better game against the talented Stars. However, they took nearly 9 minutes to register their first shot on goal in the contest. The Predators have to have better starts in they are going to win against talented teams.

• Gabriel Bourque has skated with good jump lately. he has always played hard, but has seemed to have an extra gear in recent games. While this hasn't been the season Bourque or Predator fans have wanted, his late resurgence hopefully bodes well for the upcoming season. This was Bourque's first two goal game in is career.

• The Predators penalty kill while the Stars had a two man advantage was all heart. Rinne and the defense in front of him refused to fold in the face of the Stars attack.

• The Predators out shot the Stars in regulation 26-23. Lehtonen and Rinne both made some good saves during the course of the game. I liked the way the Predators attacked the net after their slow start. Lehtonen kept the Stars in the game with his strong play.

• The line of Calle Jarnkrok, Craig Smith, and Gabriel Bourque was broken up in the third period with Paul Gaustad moving into Jarnkrok's center position. Jarnkrok had 11:39 of ice time tonight and with the exception of Rich Clune (8:26) had the lowest amount of ice time among the Predators forwards.

Tough loss for the Predators, one that will eliminate them from the playoff race.

The compete level was there, but they couldn't capture the win. Now we will see how this team competes in the last three games of the season.

My three stars:

1. Gabriel Bourque

2.Jamie Benn

3. Alex Goligoski

Predators Pound the Stars 4-1

The Nashville Predators took on division rival Dallas Stars at the Bridgestone Arena in a game that the Predators needed to move up in the standings. Defeating the Stars would allow the Predators to leapfrog them in the West.

So obviously, this game was important for the Predators, and a good start was essential.

That apparent good start, a goal off the stick of Shea Weber was negated by a goaltender interference penalty on David Legwand.

On the ensuing power play, Cody Eakin beat Carter Hutton to give the Stars a 1-0 lead at 4:45 of the first period.

What could have been a deflating event seemed to strengthen the resolve of the Predators, as they stepped up their physical play and tallied the next 4 goals on the way to an important 4-1 win.

Nick Spaling opened the scoring for the Predators at 11:35 of the first period as he went to the slot and gathered in a rebound of a Roman Josi shot and whipped it past Kari Lehtonen to tie the game.

The Predators made it 2-1 at 17:16 of the first period off a wrist shot from Shea Weber that beat Lehtonen through traffic to the stick side.

Throughout much of the second period, the game was back and forth with both teams trying to create scoring chances and both netminders coming up with good saves. That changed in the final minute of the period as Roman Josi beat Lehtonen with a wrist shot from the face off circle to give the Predators a 3-1 lead at 19:28.

In the third period, the Stars out shot the Predators 19-3. One of those three shots was a goal from Mike Fisher that was set up by the hustle of Colin Wilson. He beat a Stars defender in a race to the puck and threw a drop pass from the corner onto the stick of Fisher. Fisher blasted a shot past Lehtonen at 3:46 of the period for a 4-1 lead.

The rest of the period, the Predators were content to play defense and limit quality scoring chances by the Stars.

They were successful and the Predators captured their third win in the last 4 games.

Some observations:

• Roman Josi is certainly smooth carrying the puck and knows when to carry it deep in the offensive zone. Josi is playing with a high level of confidence and proficiency and the team has benefited as his game continues to blossom. With the goal tonight, Josi set a career high for goals (6) and points (20).

• Carter Hutton was superb tonight. He tracked the puck well and came up with some very good saves on the Stars scoring chances. Hutton stopped 35 of 36 shots and looked poised in the crease.

• Kevin Klein went full beast mode on Antoine Roussel in a second period fight. Roussel challenged Klein, who obliged and proceeded to throw some bombs and pummel Roussel. It was interesting to see Eric Nystrom skating in close to the scrap and yelling encouragement to Klein.

• The Predators had two goals waved off in the first period. The first on the aforementioned Legwand interference penalty and the second after it appeared that Rich Clune had poked the puck over the goal line in a goal mouth scramble. The officials ruled they had blown the whistle before the puck crossed the line.

• This was a good comeback win for the Predators. Normally, when the opponent scores first, it spells trouble for the Predators. With this win tonight, the Predators are now 5-20-3 when the opponent scores first.

• The game turned midway of the first period when the Predators upped their physical play. They did a good job of taking the body and making the Stars play a very physical game. As the game wore on and the hitting continued, the Stars seemed to wilt.

• 7 of the last 15 goals the Predators have scored have come from defensemen.

• Dallas has now lost 9 of their last 10 games.

The Predators will embark on a Western Canada swing that will show where this team is in terms of getting back into the playoff race.

Play like you did tonight, boys, and you will become a factor again.

My three stars:

1. Carter Hutton

2. Roman Josi

3. Eric Nystrom

Predators Downward Spiral Continues in Loss to the Stars

The first game after the Christmas break saw the Nashville Predators travel to the American Airlines Center to face the Dallas Stars. The Predators were attempting to become more Grinch like, especially in the first period, taking away scoring chances and limiting goals. In the prior four games, the Predators had been outscored 10-1 in the first period, and if they were going to get back into the win column, the Predators had to have a much better start.

The Predators apparently were still in the giving spirit as Jamie Benn scored on a wrap around just 42 seconds into the game. Carter Hutton was out of position as Benn drove the right side of the net and used his speed to get to the open side before Hutton could react.

Once again, the Predators had given up a goal on the first shot of the game.

The Predators got shots on net but could not get to rebounds when Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen gave up rebounds. Lehtonen was not called upon to make difficult saves off the Predators offensive efforts.

The Stars were awarded a penalty shot at 16:35 of the first period as Victor Bartley hauled down Antoine Roussel, but fortunately for the Predators, Roussel missed the net with his shot.

The Predators out shot the Stars 9-7 in the first period.

The Predators opened the second period by giving the Stars several odd man rushes, and Hutton was called upon to make some big saves to keep the Stars off the board.

The Predators tied the game at 1 at 7:14 of the second period as Colin Wilson controlled the puck behind the net. he worked out to the side and found Kevin Klein sneaking in alone on the weak side and Klein buried the shot to get the Predators even.

The Predators showed their disturbing tendency to give up a goal shortly after they score as they gave up a goal just 24 seconds later. Eric Cole blasted a shot past Hutton from the face off circle at 7:38 to give the Stars a 2-1 lead.

The Predators have shown they cannot keep their opponents off the board after they score, destroying the momentum they had just seized.

Eric Cole made it 3-1 at 14:04 as he took a pass from Alex Goligoski and got behind the Predators defense for a breakaway. Cole made a nice stop move and faked Hutton down to the ice and lifted a backhand into the open net.

The Predators had several scoring opportunities in the remainder of the period but could not finish their chances.

The Stars out shot the Predators 16-11 in the second period.

The Stars opened the third period attacking the Predators net and kept the Predators on their heels. After killing off a power play, the Predators remained hemmed in their end of the ice and the stars made them pay at 4:09 as Ryan Garbutt re-directed a shot from the point by Cody Eakin past Hutton to make it 4-1.

This game had been over for a while. Now it was just a matter of how bad it would be for the Predators.

Fortunately for the Predators, they held the Stars off the board for the remainder of the game. Unfortunately, the Predators did not come close to scoring either.

Some observations:

• The inability of the Predators to carry the puck into the offensive zone is killing the offensive effort. More often than not, the Predators are dumping the puck in and chasing, and right now, they are losing those races to the puck. If the Predators cannot carry the puck into the zone, their weak offense is virtually non-existent. Unfortunately, this is where the Predators are right now.

• That inability to carry the puck means that opponents are able to effectively forecheck the Predators. This results in numerous turnovers and the inability to get the puck cleanly through the neutral zone. Once again, the way this team is built, it doesn't appear that this is going to change this season.

• The Predators are going to have to live with average at best goaltending. Neither Hutton nor Mazanec have shown the ability to consistently put together a run of solid games. Again, this goes back to a strategic decision made by David Poile in the off season that is biting the Predators in the butt right now.

• Victor Bartley was inserted back into the line up after being a healthy scratch for the last three games, and he had a miserable night, going -3 for the evening. He was caught flat footed on Cole's second goal resulting in the breakaway.

• This team is working hard, but. to quote Shakespeare in Macbeth, "it is sound and fury, signifying nothing." The hard work pales in head to head competition with teams that have a better quality of NHL player. The teams in the West that have separated themselves from the pack are teams with elite offensive players that can score and solid defense and goaltending. First and foremost, the Predators lack elite offensive players that can score. The defense is shaky, and the goaltending is worse. Yes, you want hard work. No team is going to succeed with a strong work ethic. But there has to be talent to go along with that work ethic. That is what this team lacks, and it is going to make for a long and painful season.

It is not going to get any easier nor will it be any fun.

The Predators are reduced to working hard and hoping for the best.

My three stars:

1. Eric Cole

2. Alex Goligoski

3. Kari Lehtonen

Predators Shoot Down the Stars 3-1

The Nashville Predators desperately need to string together wins. They also need to start playing well on home ice.

They accomplished both those objectives tonight as they won their second straight game and their first in the last five home games by defeating the Dallas Stars 3-1 at Bridgestone Arena.

Down 1-0 on an Eric Cole goal at 18:07 of the first period, the Predators answered with two power play goals to take a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period.

The Predators went on the power play at 18:45 of the first period as Shawn Horcoff was called for high sticking. Just 7 seconds into the power play, Brenden Dillon was called for delay of game for clearing the puck over the glass.

On the ensuing 5 on 3 power play, David Legwand found Patric Hornqvist in the low slot and Hornqvist blistered a wrist shot over the shoulder of Stars netminder Kari Lehtonen to tie the game at 19:02.

The Predators continued on a 5 on 4 power play, and David Legwand gathered in a rebound of a Roman Josi shot and his shot caromed off Lehtonen and into the net at 19:30.

The Predators extended the lead to 3-1 in the second period as Paul Gaustad took a pass from Colin Wilson and showed great patience as he held the puck and faked Lehtonen to the ice before firing the puck into the open net at 9:14 of the period.

The Predators played good defense, keeping the Stars to the outside for much of the game. The Predators had 22 blocked shots for the game. When the puck did get through, Hutton was solid in net and did a good job of controlling the puck and limiting rebounds.

Some observations:

• Hutton had a second strong outing, making 33 saves on 34 shots. Hutton tracked the puck well through traffic, limited rebounds, and was positionally sound. Hutton has looked poised and calm in his two starts, and is playing with confidence. This is the kind of play that the Predators need to consistently get into the win column.

• The Predators have struggled to win when giving up the first goal. Tonight's win was just the third victory of this season when the opponent scores first.

• The Predators response after the Stars score was critical. The power play was just 1-21 before tonight, and getting the power play on track and productive is essential for the Predators.Tonight, they had good spacing and puck movement, something that had been lacking. When they do that, the power play can be a very effective weapon.

• I was impressed with the play of Victor Bartley. He logged 22 minutes of ice time and played a very sound game. He was physical and battled down low, moving Stars forwards out of prime scoring areas.

• Mike Fisher seems to be developing some good chemistry with Viktor Stalberg. They created some scoring chances tonight and have the speed and offensive capability to be dangerous. Hopefully, they will continue to develop that chemistry and produce offensively.

• Goal-den Goose: Paul Gaustad continues to chip in offensively with his second goal in as many games. Good to see Goose getting his offensive mojo going.

The Predators responded well to the Stars first score and played a solid, 60 minute game. This is the kind of effort that the Predators have to have every night.

With 9 of the next 11 games at home, the Predators need to pile up wins and bring the energy back to the barn.

My three stars:

1. Carter Hutton

2. David Legwand

3. Shea Weber

Predators Fight to 4-0 Win Over the Stars

The Nashville Predators embarked on a critical five game road trip, making their first stop in Dallas to take on the Stars.

These two teams met earlier in Nashville, with the Predators taking a 5-4 overtime decision in a spirited contest. This one had the makings of another feisty contest, and the teams did not disappoint.

The Predators had Pekka Rinne in net, while the Stars went with Kari Lehtonen.

The Predators had a solid effort in a 4-0 win.

I missed the second period while at my son's hockey game, but I saw enough of the game to offer these observations:

Predators Find Some Grit

Dallas made a commitment to be physical, to the point of gooning up the game in the third period. The Predators responded with grit and physical play of their own, but it was physical play that was in control. The Predators drew penalties and responded with physical play of their own.

I like the response of the team, especially in the third period that saw an old fashioned line brawl. When the Stars get down, they try to use their size and physicality to back down their opponent. Tonight, the Predators did not back down. That is the kind of response that the Predators have to have, as the remaining games will bring out the desperation of every team.

Rinne Was...Rinne

Peks recorded his league leading 5th shutout and was outstanding in net. He made some big saves, especially in the third when the Predators were under siege by a desperate Dallas squad. When Rinne is moving well and tracking the puck like he did tonight, he is nearly unbeatable. And this frustrates the other team, as we saw late in the game by the Stars cheap shots and goon tactics.

Penalty Kill Comes Up Big

The PK was a perfect 4 for 4, and came up with two big kills early in the third period when Dallas was pressing to get back into the game. The Predators are going to need the PK to be stronger than it has been in previous games, and this was a good way to get their mojo back. They need to build on this effort.

Clune Continues To Impress

Rich Clune had another strong game and even scored on a penalty shot. Clune plays a gritty game, but has emerged as a player that is smart with the puck and creates some offense. His style of play gets under the skin of the opponents as evidenced by drawing a game misconduct penalty against the Stars  Jamie Oleksiak late in the game. Clune chose not to engage Oleksiak and watched him sent to the showers while he stayed on the ice. That was a heady play.

Welcome Back Matt

Matt Halischuk set up the Predators first goal with a nifty steal of the puck at the Stars blue line, setting up Nick Spaling for the Predators first goal of the contest. Halischuk had been sent down to Milwaukee but was recalled after two games because of injuries. Halischuk needs to continue to produce, and the Predators need him playing solid hockey.

That Darn Injury Bug...

struck again as the Predators lost Paul Gaustad to an upper body injury. The extent of the injury is unknown, but with Patrick Hornqvist and Colin Wilson injured, the Predators can ill afford to lose more players for an extended period of time.

Stop Me if You Have Heard This before

Once again, Marty Erat and Sergei Kostitsyn played a game and recorded no shots on goal. C'mon guys.. we need scoring, and you are not going to score if you never shoot the puck.

Final Thoughts

A solid win by the Predators that was characterized by gritty play, solid goaltending, and scoring by committee. And it is good to see the committee begin to score again. Shots on net with traffic in front is a winning combination for the Predators. Now, if we can just get some of our forwards untracked and shooting the puck...

This is the kind of win the Predators needed to start the road trip. But this is one game in a critical five game swing. It is imperative that the Predators bring this kind of effort in the remaining road games. I beleive the Predators are going to need to capture at least 6 of the 10 possible points on this trip.

This was a good start.

Now build on it.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Craig Smith

3. Rich Clune

Predators Shoot Down the Stars 2-0

The Nashville Predators defeated the Dallas Stars 2-0 at the Bridgestone Arena to move back into 4th place in the Western Conference with one game remaining on their regular season schedule. The Predators will face the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday at the Pepsi Center.

The Stars were eliminated from the playoffs with the loss.

Pekka Rinne got the start for the Predators, and with his 5th shutout of the season sits atop the NHL with 43 wins.

Kari Lehtonen was in net for the Stars, and held the Predators off the board for the first two periods with a solid effort.

The first period was scoreless and took on the tenor of a heavyweight fight as both teams probed the others defense, looking for an opening. The Stars were trapping and the Predators had a difficult time getting their offensive flow established. The Predators defense responded by keeping the Stars to the outside and allowing very few quality chances.

The period ended with the Predators outshooting the Stars 9-8.

The second period was more of the same, with the best scoring chance coming from the Stars, as a shot from the face off circle got through Rinne and trickled toward the goal line. Fortunately, the puck dribbled into the post, and Rinne was able to recover.

Shots were 8-8 in the second period, but the Predators defense continued to force the Stars to the outside and did not allow room in the prime scoring areas. The Stars were desperate, playing for their post season lives, and the Predators matched their desperation and intensity, which was critical in this game.

The Predators finally broke through in then third period as Patric Hornqvist fired a shot that Lehtonen kicked out with his pad. Francis Bouillon and Andrei Kostitsyn converged on the puck, and it was Bouillon that got it on his stick and stuffed a backhand shot past Lehtonen to give the Predators a 1-0 lead at 4:28 of the third period.

With the lead, the Stars ramped up their push to get back in the game. The Predators defense was equal to the task and kept the Stars from getting good scoring opportunities.

This was the kind of game where the Predators could not get comfortable with a 1 goal lead, and another goal would all but seal the win for the Predators.

That goal would come at the 18 minute mark as Brandon Yip took a shot and Lehtonen kicked a rebound out into the low slot. The puck was lying between 3 Stars defenders, but it was Patric Hornqvist who swooped in and chipped the puck over the shoulder of Lehtonen to give the Predators a 2-0 lead.

It got interesting late in the game as the Stars pulled Lehtonen for the extra attacker and Mike Fisher was penalized for delay of game at 19:05.

The Predators PK unit came up big as they had done all night with another kill. Hal Gill and Paul Gaustad both blocked shots and the Stars never really threatened the Predators with the 2 man advantage.

This was a solid win by the Predators against a team that was fighting for their playoff destiny. The Predators matched their intensity and effort. The Stars played full tilt, and the Predators matched their effort.

Kudos to the Predators PK unit. They killed all 4 of the Stars power plays, and continue their solid effort. The Predators also blocked 23 shots by the Stars in the game.

The 2 goals tonight bring the Predators season total to 230 with one game remaining. This ties the team record for third most goals scored in a season. Quietly, the Predators have put together a very solid offensive effort with balanced scoring throughout the line up.

The Predators can wrap up home ice with a win in Colorado or loss or an overtime loss by the Wings in their game on Saturday.

The goal of home ice is in sight.

Time to take control of your destiny.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Patric Hornqvist

3. Francis Bouillon

Predators Shoot Down the Stars 3-2

The Nashville Predators faced the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center looking to get back to their winning ways after dropping a disappointing game on Friday to the Detroit Red Wings. The Predators would be without Mike Fisher, absent because of an illness.

Pekka Rinne got the start in net for the Predators, while the Stars went with Kari Lehtonen.

The AAC has always been a tough barn for the Predators, and it was going to be critical that the team come out with energy and play a solid game.

Dallas struck first at 6:49  of the first period as Mike Ribeiro swung out from behind the net and appeared to be ready to attempt a wrap around shot. Instead, he spotted Michael Ryder, who had eluded the Predators defense and was alone at the side of the net. Ryder had an easy tap in to give the Stars the early 1-0 lead. On the play, Craig Smith, getting the start centering the number one line, lost Ryder, allowing him an easy shot on net.

The Predators have shown an annoying and frustrating tendency to pass up shots, and they were continuing this trend in this game so far. Matt Halischuk got the puck in a prime scoring area and passed up the shot, instead throwing the puck to David Legwand on the boards. Legwand took a bad angle shot that was re-directed by Gabriel Bourque past Lehtonen to tie the game at 1 at 15:39 of the first period.

I guess sometimes it helps to be lucky.

The Predators are going to have to change this trend of passing up shots if they hope to get their offensive game on track. Hopefully, this negative characteristic disappears in this game.

With the Predators on the power play and time winding down, Shea Weber gathered in a rebound of Ryan Suter shot and hammered a shot past Lehtonen with .02 remaining in the period to give the Predators a 2-1 lead.

NO shot is a bad shot, eh?

In the first period, the Predators out shot the Stars 10-8.

The second period saw the intensity from both teams continue at the same high level as the first period. Each team continued to play tough defense and create a few scoring chances, but both goaltenders were equal to the task.

At 10:08 of the second, Shea Weber took a wrist shot from the blue line that was deflected and fluttering over the shoulder of Lehtonen into the net. The puck was touched by the glove of Matt Halischuk crashing the net, however, and it was waved off.

The Predators did get their 3-1 lead at 16:05 on a great hustle play by Colin Wilson as he fought off two Stars defenders and walked out of the corner with the puck. His backhand was a beauty to the far post through traffic to cleanly beat Lehtonen, who did not see the puck. For Wilson, this was his 12th goal of the season.

The period ended with the Predators leading 3-1. Both teams recorded five shots on goal, a testament to the tight checking and defense that was being played.

For the Predators, the challenge was to withstand the inevitable push that would come from the Stars in the third period.

And push the Stars did. They were playing like a desperate team and controlling the puck in the Predators zone. The Predators were unable to muster much offense, and with nearly 7 minutes gone in the third period, the Stars had out shot the Predators 7-1.

Once again, Pekka Rinne was called upon to make some big saves to hold the Stars off the board. The Predators to this point had been guilty of sitting back and letting the Stars dictate play.

Alex Goligoski made it a 1 goal game as he pinched down from his defense position and beat Rinne on a bad goal with a shot from the boards that beat the Nashville netminder short side at the post. The score came at 15:11, setting up a war for the final 4:49.

With 2:05 remaining in the game, Hal Gill was called for tripping, the Predators first penalty of the game. The pressure was now on the Predators PK unit to come up with a big kill.

And come up big they did. The Stars pulled Lehtonen, and facing a 6 on 4 power play, the PK unit was stellar, forcing the Stars to the outside. The Stars got a glorious chance as the puck got loose at the side of the net and Mike Ribeiro misfired on the shot, sending it behind the Predators net. The Predators killed off the power play, and as the horn sounded, skated away with a much needed 2 points.

Nashville was out shot 11-6 in the third period, but that belies the fact that the Stars controlled play for much of the final 20 minutes. Kudos to Pekka Rinne for making some huge saves and keeping the Stars off the board.

This was a solid win for the Predators as they were missing their top two leading scorers in Fisher and Patric Hornqvist, who is on IR. The Predators battled and were once again opportunistic in their scoring, and this two points is precious for this team. It allows them to keep pace with the Blues and keep some distance between themselves and the Blackhawks.

The effort tonight is a carryover of a solid effort from the previous game, and they will have to continue to bring this kind of effort in the remaining games.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Michael Ryder

3. Colin Wilson

Predators Hand the Stars a 4-1 Victory

The Nashville Predators handed the Dallas Stars a 4-1 victory at the Bridgestone Arena in front of the 7th consecutive sellout for the home team.

"Handed?" Sour grapes?

No.

Consider that in a 1-1 game, the Predators made two egregious mistakes that wound up in the back of their net and allowed the Stars to take control of the game and cement a win.

Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne is owed an apology by the team in front of him.

I will get to that in a moment.

First, the Predators welcomed back Shea Weber, who missed four games due to a cheap shot from the Stars Mark Fistric in a game just before Christmas. Weber was his usual physical self and appeared not to miss a beat, as he logged 25:45 of ice time.

As to the game, the Stars struck first as Mike Ribeiro got the Stars on the board first at 4:18 of the first period. Ribeiro undressed Roman Josi in front of the net, and the Predators forward was late getting back on the line change to help. Ribeiro made a nice move in the low slot and beat Rinne glove side to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.

The Predators answered at 8:31 of the first as Gabriel Bourque tallied his first NHL goal off some hard work and a nice pass from Jordin Tootoo. Tootoo fought for and won the puck behind the net and found Bourque in the low slot with a nice pass. Bourque buried the wrister behind Kari Lehtonen to tie the game at 1.

With time winding down in the first period, Ribeiro took a shot that eluded Rinne and was lying in the blue paint. Kevin Klein came back to help his goalie, but instead of securing the puck, accidentally knocked it into the net to give the Stars a 2-1 lead at 19:21 of the first period.

In the second period, the Predators gave the Stars another goal as Ryan Suter made a blind drop pass behind the net thinking that Nick Spaling would be there to take possession of the puck. Spaling was nowhere to be found, and the puck was taken by Jamie Benn at the goal line, and he fired a quick shot on the surprised Rinne that caromed off his skate and into the net to make it 3-1 at 6:28.

In the third period, Adam Burish gathered in a puck that the Predators failed to clear and then over skated in the defensive zone and fired a shot past a screened Rinne to make it 4-1 at 12:53 of the third period. This would be the final margin of the game.

For the Predators, this was a disappointing effort. Giving the Stars 3 goals is certainly a formula for defeat. The Predators offensive effort was negligible for the night. David Legwand, Mike Fisher, Marty Erat, and Sergei Kostitsyn were virtually invisible in this game, and for the Predators to have success, they have to be more effective and create chances.

By far, the best line for the Predators was the Tootoo, Bourque, Spaling line. They played with energy and enthusiasm, and were a force on the ice.

There was a large dose of animosity on the ice. Fistric was going to pay for his cheap shot on Weber, and early on was challenged by Jordin Tootoo. Fistric was not going to trade punches with Toots, and was content to hang on and try to wrestle with his opponent. When called out, Fistric would not answer.

As I mentioned, the effort tonight by the Predators was disappointing. Giving the Stars three goals doomed their effort against a team they need to beat and should beat.

There will be two more meetings against the Stars. Hopefully the Predators will not give them any goals in those contests.

My three stars:

1. Mike Ribeiro

2. Kari Lehtonen

3. Gabriel Bourque

Stars Stymied by the Predators 4-2

The Nashville Predators defeated the Dallas Stars and Mike Leggo and Brad Watson, the referees, 4-2 for their 6th straight win at the Bridgestone Arena. The win runs the Predators record to 41-25-10, good for 92 points and 6th in the Western Conference.

This was another critical win for the Predators as they defeated a team that is chasing them in the race for a playoff position. The Predators entered the game with a 2 point lead over the Stars, and when the night was over had stretched that lead to 6 points. With the Predators fighting for playoff position, every game is vital, and it is even more so when playing a team that is chasing them in the standings. Taking care of business was essential for the Predators.

Take care of business they did.

Dallas opened the scoring at 8:49 of the first period as Alex Goligoski tallied with a quick wrist shot over the shoulder of Pekka Rinne. The Stars got the man advantage as Sergei Kostitsyn was in the box for high sticking.

The 1-0 lead did not look good for the Predators as Dallas was working their trap effectively and clogging the neutral zone and not allowing the Predators to enter the zone cleanly. The Dallas trap was especially effective in throttling the Predators offense early in the contest.

The Predators would finally settle down and would start to solve the Stars trap game as the first period wore on. Their effort would pay off at 14:26 of the first period as Martin Erat would fire a shot on Dallas netminder Kari Lehtonen. Lehtonen kicked out the rebound and David Legwand was the beneficiary as he drove hard to the net and jammed home the rebound under Lehtonen's pad to tie the game with his 16th goal of the year.

The Predators would take a 2-1 lead at 2:33 of the second period as Mike Fisher would rip a wrist shot over the shoulder of Lehtonen and off the post and into the net. Fisher's shot was a rocket that Lehtonen saw but could not stop. This was Fisher's 16th goal of the season and his second as a Predator, and it was good to see the hard working forward get back on the score sheet.

Dallas would tie the game on what can only be called a fluky goal. Brendon Morrow flipped the puck from behind the net toward the goal. It hit the stick of Blake Geoffrion and spun wildly over the net, where it hit the back of Rinne and fell into the net at 4:07 of the second.

Goals are goals, but damn, I'm tired of seeing the Predators victimized by bizarre goals.

The play was set up by a blatant trip on Predators defenseman Shea Weber that was not called. Both the aforementioned officials Leggo and Watson inexplicably chose to ignore the trip that set up the Stars scoring opportunity. This was the first of several suspect calls by these officials.

The Predators continued to break the Dallas trap and generate some quality chances. The Predators had a scoring opportunity late in the second as the line of Jerred Smithson, Nick Spaling, and Jordin Tootoo created some offensive zone presence. Tootoo drove the net searching for a centering pass from Spaling and was tackled into the net by a Dallas defenseman.

I will let you guess if there was a call against the Stars.

Anyone?

If you said there was  no call, you would be right.

The Predators would take a 3-2 lead at 9:07 of the second period as Ryan Suter fired a shot that Lehtonen blocked with his pad. Mike Fisher was cruising across the low slot and gathered in the rebound and fired a backhand shot into the open net for his second goal of the game and his 17th of the season.

There was no further scoring in the second period, but with a one goal lead, Predator nation could not rest easy going into the third period.


The Predators did a great job in the third period of limiting the chances of the Stars, forcing them to the perimeter for many of their shots. When the Stars did get a quality chance, Rinne was there to clean up the chances.

The third period was  a punch/counter-punch period, with the Predators limiting the Stars opportunities and the Stars thwarting the Predators offensive chances. As the period wound down, the game was  in the balance.

Once again, Watson and Leggo would do their best to tip the balance in favor of the Stars. With just 2 minutes remaining in the contest, Ryan Suter was called for a brutal and phantom hooking call on a great check. The final minutes of the contest would see the Predators down a man.

Gut check time for the Predators, a test of their character.

And they would pass the test with flying colors. In spite of the officiating.

The Predators PK did not let the Stars get into any rhythm and rarely let them gain the zone with any speed. The penalty killers were able to clear the zone effectively and not let the Stars get established in their offense.

Dallas would pull Lehtonen to give the Stars a 6 on 4 advantage, but it was to no avail. The Predators cleared the puck to David Legwand, who potted an empty netter with 4 seconds remaining in the period.

Game over.

More importantly, game over and two huge points for the Predators, who continue to cement a playoff position. This was a game that was a test of character and mental toughness, one that saw the Predators face a team that was desperate and chasing them in the standings. The ability of the Predators to overcome a talented Stars squad and horrific officiating speaks well to their character and their mental toughness.

A word about the 7th man- the fans at the Bridgestone Arena. There is no other arena in the NHL that has fans respond like the Predator nation. The standing ovation during the television timeout is becoming known throughout the league. It encourages the home team and intimidates the visitors. One can look at the visiting team bench and see them looking around with a "WTF" expression and reaction at the outpouring of emotion and enthusiasm of the home crowd. One can also look at the Predator players and see them respond as well. They are energized by the crowd. They are one with their fans who are in full throat and willing their team to a greater effort and to victory. Tonight, the 7th man came through again.

Six straight wins feels good. The job is not done. There are more points to gather and positioning to be determined.

Keep playing with this kind of effort and you will continue to stymie your opponents.

My three stars:

1. Mike Fisher

2. David Legwand

3. Patric Hornqvist

Predators Season Sliding Away, Fall to Stars 3-2

The Nashville Predators are watching their season slowly- and painfully- slip away. The slide continued today with a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars in the American Airlines Arena.

The Predators cannot catch a break, and they cannot manufacture enough offense to overcome a single mistake. This is a team that cannot seem to do anything positive to reverse their slide, wasting another solid goaltending effort by Pekka Rinne. Rinne made some amazing saves or the score would not have been as close as it was.

Tom Wandell scored the only goal of the first period, beating Rinne with a wrist shot high glove side.

The Predators would score two second period goals to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission. Ryan Suter would open the scoring at 5:00 of the period as he followed his shot and poked the rebound past Kari Lehtonen. Colin Wilson would score on a great hustle play at 13:32 as he beat a Dallas defenseman to gather in a rebound of a Cody Franson shot and knock a backhand past Lehtonen.

The wheels would start to come off (again!) in the third period for the Predators. Alex Goligoski flipped what appeared to be a harmless wrist shot from the point toward the net. The puck hit Jonathan Blum, took a crazy bounce, and hopped over the pads of Rinne for the tying goal.

It is apparent that the hockey gods are pissed at the Predators after a goal like that.

With the Predators down a man on a boarding call to Shea Weber, the Predators had a glorious scoring chance as David Legwand and Joel Ward broke in 2 on 1. Legwand flipped a nice saucer pass to Ward, who fanned on the shot. The Stars turned the puck back up the ice and Loui Eriksson buried a re-directed shot for the final margin of victory.

The Predators generated some pressure in the waning moments of the contest, but could not get a puck past Lehtonen.

The Predators have now lost four games in a row and have fallen from 4th in the West to 10th. This skid comes at the most inopportune time as teams are now starting to separate and establish playoff positioning. The Predators have been streaky all season, and if they are going to have a shot at the playoffs, the streak has to end now.

The offensive production of this team is struggling, and the players counted on to carry the load are not doing so. This team has the annoying tendency to watch Rinne bail them out time and again. As we have seen during this skid, one mistake is all it takes to wind up in a hole that this offense cannot overcome. The attack mode of the offense has disappeared, and it has been evident- painfully- during this losing streak.

How does it turn around?

When this team was winning games, they shot the puck and crashed the net. They scored dirty goals. They skated hard and forechecked aggressively, creating offensive opportunities.

It's time to get back to the basics, boys.

It is time to realize that your season is on the line. You can play yourselves back into playoff contention or you can watch your season go down the toilet. You can go balls to the wall or you can sit back and hope your goaltender steals a game.

I, for one, am tired of seeing you piss your season away. I hope you are, too.

The choice is yours.

My three stars:

1. Kari Lehtonen

2. Loui Eriksson

3. Ryan Suter

Predators Shut Out Stars 1-0

American Airlines Arena has been anything but friendly to the Nashville Predators, with the Dallas Stars dominating on home ice with a record of 17-4-1. In those 22 contests, the Stars have outscored the Predators 66-29 on their home ice.

Doesn't really sound like a formula for success for a depleted Predators lineup against the Stars, does it?

This is a Predators team that has character, heart, and grit, however, and tonight those characteristics were prominently displayed as they knocked off the Stars by a score of 1-0.

Oh yeah, the Predators had one other thing to lean on tonight. Netminder Pekka Rinne, who was at the top of his game in blanking the Stars. Rinne stopped all 30 shots that he faced tonight to pick up his first shutout of the season.

The Predators got on the board just 42 seconds into the contest. The line of Cal O'Reilly, Patric Hornqvist, and Steve Sullivan did a great job of controlling the puck and cycling deep in the Dallas zone. A shot at the net caromed off the skate of Hornqvist out to Shea Weber on the blueline. Weber unleashed a blast that Leighton stopped with his pad, but the rebound kicked out to an open O'Reilly. He shot the puck off the rebound and Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen initially made a pad stop. The puck slid behind Lehtonen, who was desperately reaching for the puck lying on the goal line. O'Reilly followed his shot and was able to poke it past Lehtonen for the only score of the game.

Rinne was outstanding in this game, stopping several quality scoring chances by the Stars. He had to be especially sharp in the second period as the Stars peppered the Nashville net. In that period, the Stars outshot the Predators 13-5. For the game, the Stars outshot the Predators by a 30-24 margin.

Injuries continue to plague the Predators. J.P. Dumont left the game with a lower body injury after playing only ten minutes of the contest. The extent of Dumont's injury is unknown.

Predators defenseman Kevin Klein was battling an illness, but still logged 17:07 of ice time. The Predators recalled defenseman Teemu Laakso from Milwaukee and went with seven defensemen in the contest. Laakso played 2:43. Sergei Kostitsyn was a healthy scratch.

Nashville fans were caught in the was of the dispute between Fox Sports and Direct TV. Fox refused to lift the blackout on the game, so there was no Nashville feed or feed from Dallas on Center Ice. The game had an old time feel to it for Nashville fans as we huddled around the radio to keep up with the contest.

Thanks, Fox Sports.

With this win, the Predators remain the only team in the NHL to be undefeated in regulation. The Predators are 4-0-3.

The Predators are on the road Sunday night at Tampa.

As children, we are told the only way to deal with your fears is to face them directly. The Predators faced their demons in Dallas and met the challenge.

New challenges await.

Time to face them.

My three stars of the game:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Cal O'Reilly

3. Kari Lehtonen