Arvidsson, Smith lead Predators past Stars
DALLAS -- Viktor Arvidsson had two goals and two assists, and Craig Smith added two goals and an assist for the Nashville Predators in a 7-3 win against the Dallas Stars on Thursday night at American Airlines Center.
Nashville (41-28-12) also got goals from Kevin Fiala, Roman Josi and Harry Zolnierczyk. Anthony Bitetto and P.K. Subban added two assists, and Jusse Saros made 30 saves.
Dallas (33-37-11) got goals from Jason Spezza, Radek Faksa, who also had an assist, and Jason Dickinson. The Stars will miss the playoffs after leading the Western Conference with 109 points last season.
Smith scored the only goal of the third period, netting his second of the game after his slap shot deflected off John Klingberg with 6:08 remaining.
Nashville scored early and often to build a 4-0 lead after one period. Viktor Arvidsson scored his first of two goals in the opening frame 1:06 into the game when he tipped a Craig Smith pass through the five-hole of Antti Niemi.
Smith made it 2-0 with his 11th goal of the season with 6:58 remaining before the first intermission when he beat Niemi to his short side. Following the goal, Niemi, who stopped six of eight shots, headed to the locker room as he was replaced in net by Kari Lehtonen.
Kevin Fiala put the Predators ahead by three with his 11th goal of the season on a wrist shot from the top of the left circle with 1:44 remaining in the first period.
Thirty-six seconds later, Arvidsson added his second tally of the period when his shot from the top of the right circle deflected in off the skate of Jamie Oleksiak.
Nashville went ahead 5-0 when Zolnierczyk scored his second goal of the season 1:06 into the second period.
Dallas followed with three unanswered goals to cut it to 5-3 before Josi broke the string with a power-play goal with 2:31 remaining before the second intermission.
Spezza broke the shutout with his 15th goal of the season, beating Juuse Saros far post with a wrist shot from the left circle 2:47 into the second period.
Faksa followed with his 12th goal of the season, redirecting a Dan Hamhius wrist shot with 9:30 remaining in the second for his 12th goal of the season.
Dickinson made it a two-goal game with his second goal of the season with 7:09 remaining before the second intermission when he scored from the right circle.
Josi made it 6-3 when he beat Lehtonen far post with a slap shot from the right circle during a five-on-three power play.
NOTES: The Predators scratched D Ryan Ellis (lower body), LW Vernon Fiddler, a former Star, C Mike Fisher (lower body), LW Cody McLeod, D Yannick Weber and C Colin Wilson (lower body). ... The Stars scratched RW Ales Hemsky (hip), RW Jiri Hudler (groin), LW Curtis McKenzie (eye), D Patrik Nemeth, RW Brett Ritchie (lower body), LW Antoine Roussel (hand) and LW Patrick Sharp (hip). ... Both teams have one game regular-season game remaining. Nashville plays at Winnipeg Saturday while Dallas hosts Colorado in the regular-season finale for both Central Division clubs.