Stars 2 - 3 Predators
Final - OT
  for this game

First-place Preds take on Stars

Jan 8, 2015 - 3:53 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Central Division-leading Nashville Predators try to extend their home winning streak to five straight games on Thursday night as they play host to the Dallas Stars.

The Predators are 15-2-1 as the hosting team this season, a big part of why they lead the division by two points over the Chicago Blackhawks. Another factor is that Nashville has yet to lose back-to-back games this season.

The Preds were bested in a shootout by the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, but rebounded with a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. All three of the goals came in the third period, with defenseman Roman Josi getting the winner with 4:43 to play.

Ryan Ellis and Mike Fisher also lit the lamp in the final 20 minutes for the Predators, who have reeled off seven wins in their last 10 outings. Pekka Rinne came up with 23 saves in the win.

"We didn't come out strong ... but we kept getting better," Fisher said.

Filip Forsberg had an assist on Fisher's goal, giving him 38 points in 39 games this season. That set a new franchise rookie record for points in a season, surpassing the 37 Alexander Radulov had in 64 games during the 2006-07 season.

Forward James Neal missed his third game in a row with a lower-body injury and is questionable for tonight.

Nashville has won the first two of five meetings with Dallas this season as well as eight of the previous 12 encounters. The Preds have taken three in a row and five of the past six meetings at home.

Rinne is 9-5-1 with a 2.61 goals against average, .903 save percentage and three shutouts against the Stars.

Dallas looks to avoid a third straight loss tonight after getting bested 4-2 by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

Antoine Roussel and Ales Hemsky each scored a goal for the Stars, while Anders Lindback allowed four goals on 20 shots.

"I thought we got off to a real poor start," said Stars coach Lindy Ruff. "We weren't ready to play. Taking three penalties in the first, that hurt us. After that, we were the team that dominated possession."

Dallas did drop to a solid 8-2-1 in its last 11 games and is five points back of a wild card spot.

After Lindback made his fifth start of the season and first since Nov. 29, Kari Lehtonen figures to get the call tonight for the Stars. He is an even 8-8-0 lifetime versus the Preds with a 2.37 GAA and .916 save percentage.

Stars forward Shawn Horcoff has missed four games in a row with illness, but is in line to return tonight.






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