In this continuing series on THN's Stars site, Adam Proteau looks at every Stars rival in the Central Division. And in this file, the focus is on Dallas' rivalry with the Nashville Predators.
The Dallas Stars are going to be in an improved Central Division this coming season, and if they intend on getting at least as far as they did last year, they’re going to have to do battle against Central Division powerhouses.
In that regard, THN’s Stars site is focusing on the Stars’ Central rivals, and breaking down how they match up against each divisional rival. Tuesday, we kicked off this series with a look at the No. 2 Central team last season (the Winnipeg Jets), and Wednesday, we focused on the Central’s No. 3 team last year– the Colorado Avalanche. Today, it’s the Nashville Predators we’re examining.
DALLAS’ 2023-24 RECORD: 52-21-9
NASHVILLE’S 2023-24 RECORD: 47-30-5
DALLAS’ REGULAR-SEASON RECORD AGAINST NASHVILLE IN 2023-24: 2-2-0
HOW THE STARS STACK UP AGAINST THE PREDATORS IN 2024-25: The Stars get the Predators right out of the gate in both teams’ first game of the 2024-25 season, and Dallas plays Nashville three more times after that – once in early December, once in early April, and then one last time in the final game of the regular season on April 16. Those games are likely to be highly-entertaining, as both the Stars and Preds are probably going to be the two best teams in the Central.
Nashville’s odds of winning a Cup this year increased notably with the off-season additions of star forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, and defenseman Brady Skjei, and they’re going to push the Stars in a battle for top spot in the division. And while the two teams likely won’t square off in the opening round of the post-season, Dallas and Nashville will probably have to go through one another to get out of the second round of the playoffs.
The Stars and Preds split their four games in 2023-24, with Dallas winning the first and fourth games – romping to a 9-2 win in that fourth game against Nashville. We can see a similar type of performance unfolding this coming season, as the Predators are going to want to set the tone for their rivalry by winning on opening night and building from there.
Both Dallas and Nashville have great goaltending, a deep defense corps and a well-balanced group of forwards, so there’s not much that separates the two franchises when it comes down to brass tacks. It’s going to be highly-compelling hockey when the two teams square off, and the Predators are going to be one of the toughest tests for the Stars in the regular-season and the playoffs.
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