Predators Face Tough Challenge Against Robertson and the Stars

As the regular season winds down, the Nashville Predators face some of the league's top teams in their last seven games beginning tonight against the 41-21-14 Dallas Stars. The Stars are tied with the Colorado Avalanche for second place in the Central Division and both teams are just one point behind division leader Minnesota Wild. 

The Stars are coming off of a 5-2 loss Saturday against the Avs, and they have gone 5-4-1 in their last ten. While Dallas has had their ups and down this season, they are one of the most well rounded teams in the Western Conference heading into the postseason. Jason Robertson leads the team with a career high 97 points with six games left to play. Roope Hintz, Jamie Benn, and Joe Pavelski round out the top goal scorers for the Stars. 

Defense and goaltending play a part in team's success this season. Jake Oettinger's .917 save percentage combined with solid defense from Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, and Colin Miller help the Stars rank 9th in the league in goal against per game. Special teams gives Dallas an advantage tonight as well.

The game tonight begins a seven game gauntlet against playoff caliber teams to finish the Predators' regular season. Nashville has remained competitive despite a long list of injuries and a roster that resembles October's starting lineup in Milwaukee. Tommy Novak, Luke Evangelista, Phil Tomasino, and Kiefer Sherwood have stepped up offensively after Filip Forsberg, Matt Duchene, Ryan Johansen, and Roman Josi were injured. It appears Cole Smith will miss tonight's game after leaving Saturday in the second period as the Predators recalled John Leonard this morning.

Ryan McDonagh and Tyson Barrie anchor a battered blue line. The defense combined with outstanding goaltending by Juuse Saros result in allowing only 2.91 goals against per game. 

1. Great goaltending - This is the first game in a back to back, so Juuse Saros and Kevin Lankinen will likely each get a start today and tomorrow. Regardless of who is in net, goaltending will need to be outstanding against a Stars team that averages 3.41 goals for per game. 

2. Few penalties and the confident penalty kill - Dallas ranks 8th in the league on the power play and with a top unit of Benn, Pavelski, Robertson, Hintz, and Heiskanen scoring a combined 44 power play goals, Nashville will do well to stay out of the box especially if Cole Smith - one of the Preds best penalty killers - is out of the line up.  If they commit an infraction, the penalty kill will need to play aggressively and execute well to keep the Stars from capitalizing on the man advantage.

3. Pucks on net - In the Saturday win over the St. Louis Blues, Nashville recorded 35 shots on goal and followed first attempts with quality second chance opportunities. Getting pucks on net has been a challenge for the Predators recently. In their last five games, Nashville has only averaged 23.2 shots on goal, but they will have to throw more at Oettinger and the Stars' high powered offense to stay in this game. 

The Predators travel to American Airlines Center for a 7:30 pm CST puck drop against the Stars tonight. Bally Sports South will broadcast the game while 102.5 The Game will have the radio call.