Predators 3 - 2 Stars
Final
  for this game

Skidding Stars battle Predators

Nov 6, 2014 - 3:59 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Dallas Stars will try to snap a five-game winless streak on Thursday night as they play host to the Nashville Predators, who are in the home stretch of a lengthy road trip.

The Stars have allowed 20 goals over a 0-3-2 slump and got just a Shawn Horcoff tally in Tuesday's 3-1 setback to the Los Angeles Kings.

Kari Lehtonen made 27 saves in Dallas' third straight loss at home (0-1-2). The Stars have not won as the hosting club since Oct. 21 and coach Lindy Ruff cited his club's inability to keep possession on Tuesday as something that needs to be worked on.

"Enough of the pond hockey," Ruff said. "We're sitting at 4-4-4. We have to get going in the other direction. We will start it simple and build it back up again."

The Stars have not lost six in a row since a 0-6-0 skid from Jan. 2-20 of last season.

Lehtonen should get the start tonight and is 8-7-0 with a 2.33 goals against average and .916 save percentage in 15 prior meetings with the Predators.

Nashville is 2-2-0 on a six-game road trip and is coming off a 3-1 setback to Winnipeg on Tuesday. The Predators started backup Carter Hutton and he was beaten on a pair of Jets' power plays in the first period while stopping 23 shots in total.

"We obviously dug ourselves a hole," said Nashville head coach Peter Laviolette. "I really liked the way we started the first three minutes. We were down in their end and we were pounding, and we ended up taking a penalty, and a quick goal. A few minutes later another penalty, another quick goal, and it's 2-0 and you've got to dig yourself out of a massive hole."

Rookie forward Filip Forsberg scored in the second period for his fourth goal and 12th point of the campaign, while Mike Ribeiro picked up an assist for a fourth consecutive game. He has 10 points in 12 contests on the season.

Pekka Rinne figures to get the start for Nashville and is 8-5-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .900 save percentage with three shutouts in 16 prior meetings, including 15 starts.

Rinne picked up a 4-1 win over the Stars on Oct. 11, making 17 saves.

Backup Anders Lindback started for Dallas in that game, making 29 saves.

The Stars had won four of six versus the Predators before that loss and have won three straight as the host in this series.

Nashville ends its road trip on Saturday versus St. Louis.






Related News