National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Nashville 3, Dallas 2
When: 8:30 PM ET, Thursday, November 6, 2014
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Referees: Kyle Rehman, Ian Walsh
Linesmen: Mike Cvik, Lonnie Cameron
Attendance: 17054

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.
Top Game Performances
 
Nashville   Dallas
Mattias Ekholm 2 Points Trevor Daley 1
Matt Cullen 1 Goals Trevor Daley 1
Mattias Ekholm 2 Assists Antoine Roussel 1
Filip Forsberg 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Pekka Rinne .943 Save Percentage Kari Lehtonen .909
Pekka Rinne 33 Saves Kari Lehtonen 30
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Nashville 33 3 2-3 1-1 2 26
Dallas 35 2 0-1 1-3 6 41
Upcoming Games
  • Dallas will play their next game at home against San Jose. The Stars have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .222 after a loss.
  • Nashville will play their next game on the road against St. Louis. The Predators have a W/L % of .286 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.