Goals by Michael McCarron and Colton Sissons gave the Nashville Predators the lead through much of the game against the Dallas Stars, but two late goals cost the Predators the game and two valuable Central Division points.
The Nashville Predators hosted the Dallas Stars for an afternoon pre-holiday game with two important Central Division points on the line. The game also marked the return of former Predator Matt Duchene whose contract was bought out by GM Barry Trotz. Duchene then signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Stars.
The Stars entered today's game with a record of 19-8-4 and coming off an exciting overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks. Goaltender Jake Oettinger suffered a lower body injury in the Stars' game on December 15 against the Ottawa Senators. Scott Wedgewood has stepped up in net in Oettinger's absence going 3-0-1 since getting the starter job.
The Predators started a goaltender on a hot streak in net as well today. Juuse Saros has won eleven of his last thirteen games. Nashville has benefitted from good goaltending and solid performances up and down the lineup recently winning eight of their last ten games. Today Cody Glass and Dante Fabbro were healthy scratches for the Predators.
The first period had plenty of back and forth action between the two teams. Each goaltender was forced to make saves under pressure, but the best save of the first twenty minutes came compliments of defenseman Roman Josi.
At the end of the first period, Nashville led in shots on goal 12-8 but the game was scoreless.
Nashville kicked off the second period with a quick goal just :23 seconds into play. Michael McCarron was credited with the score after getting tangled up in front of the net. At 3:49 McCarron headed to the penalty box for a hook, and the Stars got the game's first power play opportunity. The Predators were able to kill off the two minutes, and the teams returned to five a side.
The Stars carried momentum from the power play and pressured offensively when the teams returned to full strength. A tripping penalty by Tyler Seguin at 6:25 interrupted that pressure and gave Nashville their first chance on the power play. Colton Sissons made short work of the man advantage, cleaning up his own rebound in the slot at 6:33.
The teams battled back and forth at even strength until near the end of the period when Michael McCarron headed back to the penalty box for a hold. The Stars were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, and the period ended with Nashville up 2-0.
The Predators were forced to play in the defensive zone early in the third period. The pressure finally paid off at 8:22 as Evgenii Dadanov scored with a wrist shot to make it a one goal game.
The Stars' momentum was interrupted as Jamie Benn headed to the penalty box at 10:37 for hooking Phil Tomasino. The Predators needed the first minute to get set up on the power play and only recorded one shot on goal before the two minutes expired.
As time in the third period wound down, the Stars' pressure continued to ramp up. With less than two minutes to go, Wedgewood abandoned the net and the Stars brought on the extra attacker. Nashville tied up the puck initially, but a net front flurry resulted in the tying goal scored by former Predator Craig Smith at 19:47.
Dallas quickly got the puck in the offensive zone after the ensuing faceoff. A clearing attempt by Jeremy Lauzon was blocked, and Jane Hakanpää shot the puck from the top of the circle to score the game winner with just :02 seconds left in regulation. The Stars defeated the Predators 3-2.
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