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Predators seeking fifth straight win vs. Stars

Feb 8, 2009 - 7:49 AM Nashville (25-24-3) at Dallas (25-19-7), 6:00 pm EST

DALLAS (Ticker) -- The Nashville Predators will aim for their fifth consecutive victory when they face the Dallas Stars on Sunday in a battle of two the NHL's hottest teams since the All-Star break.

In his first start in seven contests, Dan Ellis made 22 saves to record his third shutout of the season as the Predators skated to a 2-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Friday.

Captain Jason Arnott and David Legwand scored for Nashville, which has posted a 5-0-1 record since the break.

Rookie Pekka Rinne, who started for the Rookies in the YoungStars Game as part of the All-Star Weekend festivities in Montreal last month, will likely be back in the crease. The Finn had been in net for each of the Predators' previous three wins, allowing just four goals.

The Stars are coming off their best offensive performance in 16 years. Mike Ribeiro scored two goals and set up two others as Dallas erupted for six goals in the third period en route to a 10-2 trouncing of the New York Rangers.

"That was really unexpected," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "I like the way our guys were committed to playing a full game and a full 60 minutes. ... Our guys concentrated on the effort, and we got a good one."

Rookie James Neal tallied twice while Steve Ott, Jere Lehtinen and Fabian Brunnstrom each recorded a goal and two assists for the Stars, who went 4-for-9 on the power play in winning for the seventh time in nine games.