Stars shut down Predators
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Dallas Stars looked more like a complete hockey team Tuesday night than they did in their first two games.
Marrying an increased emphasis on defense with excellent puck possession most of the game, Dallas dumped the Nashville Predators 2-1 at Bridgestone Arena.
Jason Spezza snapped a 1-1 tie with his first goal of the season at 9:15 of the third period, sweeping the puck from the slot past goaltender Pekka Rinne after the Stars forced a turnover deep in Nashville's defensive zone.
Following a 6-5 loss Saturday night in Colorado, Dallas coach Lindy Ruff and his players spoke of how unacceptable their performance was and vowed there would be changes. The Stars controlled most of this one, running up a 16-4 advantage in shots on goal in the first period and finishing with a 37-28 margin for the night.
Kari Lehtonen (1-1-0) made 27 saves for Dallas, including a skate save on Calle Jarnkrok's glorious chance at the right goalpost early in the third period. Rinne (1-1-0) stopped 35 shots for the Predators (1-2-0), which lost their second straight after a season-opening victory over Chicago.
The Stars (2-1-0) initiated scoring at 2:55 of the second period with a fourth-line marker. Adam Cracknell got the goal, his second, when Johnny Oduya's point blast was first tipped by Curtis McKenzie and then by Cracknell.
Nashville responded at 4:27 with a power-play tally from Mike Fisher, his second, off assists from Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen. It came 32 seconds after Patrick Sharp took a minor for hooking Ryan Ellis and was the Predators' fifth man-advantage goal in the first three games.
Nashville controlled play for most of the period's remainder, but Dallas regained a territorial edge to start the third and Spezza was able to convert it into the game-winner.
The Predators pulled Rinne for a sixth attacker in the final two minutes but couldn't manage a shot.
NOTES: Dallas scratched D Patrik Nemeth, RW Jiri Hudler and D Jordie Benn, each of whom played in the first two games. ... Nashville D Anthony Bitetto and Miikka Salomaki will miss significant time with upper-body injuries sustained over the weekend. Bitetto is out four to six weeks, and Salomaki will sit out six to eight weeks. ... The Stars gave Jamie Oleksiak and Esa Lindell their first game action of the season on the third defense pairing, while LW Curtis McKenzie replaced Hudler. ... Predators C Cody Bass drew into the lineup in place of Salomaki, his first game action of the season.