Stars 1 - 3 Predators
Final
  for this game

Predators top Stars behind Hutton

Dec 13, 2013 - 6:51 AM Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - Carter Hutton once again got the start in net and led the Nashville Predators to another victory, this time behind a 33- save performance to get by the Dallas Stars, 3-1, at Bridgestone Arena.

Hutton was between the pipes in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Rangers, which snapped the Predators' five-game slide -- the first four coming on home ice.

Patric Hornqvist, David Legwand and Paul Gaustad all posted goals against Kari Lehtonen, who made 27 saves in Dallas' third loss in its past four games.

Three goals were scored in the final 1:53 of the opening period.

Erik Cole's fifth tally of the season put Dallas on the board first, but penalties on Shawn Horcoff and Brenden Dillon in a seven-second span shortly thereafter yielded a pair of Nashville goals.

"Those are mental mistakes we can't make," Stars head coach Lindy Ruff said of the early penalties.

Hornqvist scored at 19:02 on the 5-on-3 off a nice pass from Legwand, who put the Predators on top 28 seconds later when the puck hit off a skate in front and found his stick on the right doorstep for an easy goal.

Nashville hadn't scored a power-play goal in its previous six games.

"The last six or seven games, it's been a little bit dry in terms of the goal production," Predators head coach Barry Trotz said of the power play. "That was a real big turning point for us. It gave us a lot of confidence at home."

Nashville added to its lead on a delayed penalty midway through the second. Gaustad forced Lehtonen out of position with a shot fake from between the circles, then skated around the goaltender before snapping in his fifth goal of the season at the 9:14 mark.

Dallas had very few opportunities after falling behind, and Hutton stopped all 21 shots he faced over the final two periods to secure the victory.

Game Notes

The Predators improved to 6-0-0 when scoring two or more power-play goals ... Stars forward Vernon Fiddler sat out with an upper-body injury ... Shea Weber was credited with assists on Nashville's first two goals ... Dallas went 0- for-3 on the power play.






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