Cal Foote scores his first goal as a Predator, but Jason Robertson and the Dallas Stars outplay the Predators in the second and third periods
Cal Foote scores his first goal as a Predator, but Jason Robertson and the Dallas Stars outplay the Predators in the second and third periods
Tonight the Nashville Predators traveled to Texas to take on the 41-21-14 Dallas Stars. The Stars went into tonight's game hoping to lock up their playoff spot while Nashville is still looking to collect points to stay in the wildcard hunt.
The Predators recalled John Leonard today to take the place of Cole Smith who is out due to an upper body injury.
Game Recap
The Dallas Stars struck early with a goal by Ty Dellandrea, but a coach's challenge and official review ruled the play offside. Roope Hintz got the Stars their first good goal at 4:21. Dallas kept the pressure on the Predators offensively, and it took Nashville into the second half of the opening period to settle in after the Stars' quick start.
The teams went back and forth exchanging chances, but neither team could get the puck in net past Saros or Scott Wedgewood. The teams ended the period tied with ten shots on goal each but Dallas up 1-0.
Nashville earned the first power play of the game as Jamie Benn headed to the penalty box for a hooking call at :39 in the second period. Nashville's power play got three shots on goals but couldn't find the back of the net.
Kevin Gravel headed to the penalty box at 6:37 for a tripping call as he interrupted a breakaway chance. The penalty kill kept Dallas from getting a shot on net. As Gravel sprang from the box, he corralled the puck for a chance on Wedgewood but the Stars' goaltender made the save.
It took Dallas halfway through the period to record their first shot on goal, but they soon made a chance count as defenseman Colin Miller got the puck through traffic and past Saros at 12:31.
Dallas got their second chance on the power play at 15:39 for hooking. The Stars made short work of the man advantage as Joe Pavelski tipped the puck past Saros. The teams headed into the second intermission with the Stars up 3-0.
Tyson Barrie headed to the penalty box at 3:37. The Predators were able to kill this two minute penalty, and the teams returned to five a side. Five on five play only lasted a few minutes before Dante Fabbro headed to the box, but before the puck could drop a dust up between Mark Jankowski and Colin Miller sent them to their respective boxes. Again, the Stars power play scored quickly giving Dallas a four goal lead.
At 14:23 Tyler Seguin sent a pass from Jason Robertson past Saros to give Dallas a 5-0 lead. Nashville finally got on the board as Cal Foote cleaned up a loose puck at 15:10.
The Predators got another chance on the power lay with 3:22 remaining thanks to a Thomas Harley interference call. Nashville got several shots on net but couldn't get one past Wedgewood.
The game ended with a final score of 5-1, and the Stars punched their ticket to the postseason.
Game Notes
1. Nashville needed to stay out of the box tonight. Dallas has a good first power play unit and the penalty kill was without Cole Smith and allowed two big goals.
2. The Predators didn't maintain possession in the second and third periods. Nashville won plenty of faceoffs against the top faceoff team in the league, but couldn't do enough to use those wins in the circle to their advantage.
3. This loss may cost the Predators a postseason bid, but it's a valuable lesson. This game gives Nashville and especially the young players a good idea of what it takes to win at a postseason level.
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