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Eriksson's late goal lifts Stars over Predators

Feb 27, 2011 - 12:43 AM Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Loui Eriksson scored the game-winner late in the third period, as the Dallas Stars rallied past the Nashville Predators, 3-2, at American Airlines Center.

Alex Goligoski had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who have won two in a row since a five-game skid. Tom Wandell also lit the lamp.

Kari Lehtonen turned aside 25-of-27 shots.

"I think it's a huge win," Goligoski said. "Trailing going into the third period, a big road trip coming up, this was a big game, and obviously where they were in the standings and where we were, it was a big win, definitely."

Colin Wilson tallied a goal and an assist for the Predators, who have dropped four straight. Ryan Suter also scored.

Pekka Rinne made 22 saves for Nashville, which had been outscored by a combined 7-0 margin in its last two games, getting blanked Tuesday in Columbus before losing Thursday's home tilt to Chicago.

"Winning hockey games is fun and that's what we've got to start doing," Nashville center David Legwand said.

Down by a goal, 2-1, the Stars scored twice in the third to claim victory. At the 6:02 mark, Goligoski fired a shot on net from the right point. The puck took a weird bounce in front and snuck past Rinne for a 2-2 game.

Eriksson scored the game-winner on the power play with 3:42 left. Goligoski made his way to the slot and slid a pass to Eriksson, who quickly tipped the disc into the back of the net.

Dallas' Jamie Benn was sent to the penalty box for hooking with just eight seconds left. The Predators also pulled Rinne for a 6-on-4 advantage, but Lehtonen held strong in net.

Wandell's fourth goal of the season put the Stars on the board with 1:54 left in the first period. He led a 2-on-1 charge down the right side of the ice and fired a wrister past Rinne.

Nashville scored twice in the second to take the lead. Suter snapped the Predators' 145:50 scoring drought five minutes in. His shot from the slot hit a Dallas defender, but Suter got the puck right back and beat Lehtonen with a wrister.

Wilson made it a 2-1 game with 6:28 remaining. Cody Franson's shot set up a rebound in the slot. While diving to the ice, Wilson was able to swat the puck into the back of the net.

Game Notes

Dallas has taken two of three from Nashville this season...The Predators assigned forward Wade Belak to Milwaukee (AHL)...Nashville went 0-for-3 on the man advantage, while the Stars went 1-for-5 on the power play...Dallas center Brad Richards (concussion-like symptoms) and defenseman Nicklas Grossman (hip) each missed his sixth consecutive game.