Predators 3, Stars 2
Predators 3, Stars 2: Matt Cullen snapped a tie with 6:13 remaining in the third period as visiting Nashville avoided its first losing streak of the season.
Craig Smith and Filip Forsberg also scored for the Predators, who improved to 3-2-0 on their six-game road trip after falling at Winnipeg on Tuesday. Former Star Derek Roy and defenseman Mattias Ekholm each recorded two assists while Pekka Rinne turned aside 33 shots.
Blue-liner Trevor Daley and Patrick Eaves tallied for the Stars, whose winless streak reached six games (0-4-2). Kari Lehtonen made 30 saves as Dallas fell to 0-2-0 on its three-game homestand.
After a scoreless opening period, Nashville turned to its power play in the second to build a 2-0 lead. Smith's shot from the high slot deflected off Dallas defenseman Alex Goligoski's stick and the right post before entering the net at 4:10 and Forsberg beat a screened Lehtonen from the left faceoff circle with 6:03 remaining to double the advantage.
Daley completed a brilliant end-to-end rush that began behind his own net by beating Rinne from the slot less than three minutes later to halve the deficit and Eaves used his backhand to poke in a loose puck on the doorstep at 7:23 of the third to forge a tie. But Cullen grabbed the puck from teammate Roy at the bottom of the right circle and fired it past Lehtonen 6:24 later to put the Predators back on top.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Forsberg extended his goal-scoring streak to three games and has collected six points over his last four contests. ... Dallas failed to convert its lone power-play opportunity, falling to 0-for-15 over its last four games and 2-for-24 during its winless streak. ... Rinne improved to 6-1-1 in his last eight outings against the Stars, who have won just one of their first seven home games (1-2-4). ... Daley's goal was his fifth of the season and first not scored on the power play.