Predators 4, Stars 1: Paul Gaustad scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and assisted on Eric Nystrom's tally 81 seconds later as host Nashville topped Dallas.

Nystrom added two assists for the Predators, who gained a measure of revenge after dropping a pair of late-season contests to the Stars - and seeing their Central Division rival seize a playoff berth as a result. Captain Shea Weber joined Gaustad with a goal and an assist, defenseman Roman Josi added an empty-net tally and Pekka Rinne finished with 17 saves after losing both of his meetings with Dallas in 2013-14.

Antoine Roussel scored in the first period and Anders Lindback turned aside 29 shots for the Stars, who won three of their five meetings with Nashville last season. Jason Spezza was booed heartily by the fans at Bridgestone Arena after the veteran declined a trade to the Predators before signing with Dallas in the offseason.

With the score tied at 1-1, Gaustad skated out from behind the net and showed patience before tucking the puck around the right pad of Lindback at 8:33 of the third period. Roussel and Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis were whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct to create a 4-on-4 situation, and Gaustad made the most of it by winning a scrum along the boards before feeding Nystrom, who beat Lindback with a backhander from in close.

Dallas drew first blood at 7:14 of the first as Ryan Garbutt hustled to keep the puck in the offensive zone before wiring a diagonal pass to Roussel in the right faceoff circle. Roussel patiently skated in and slipped the puck past Rinne before Weber's wrist shot from the point with 41 seconds remaining in the second forged a tie.

GAME NOTEBOOK: After winning 14-of-17 faceoffs in the season opener, Gaustad continued his success on draws by winning 11-of-16 on Saturday. ... Stars C Vernon Fiddler, who played for Nashville from 2002-09, dropped the gloves with Gaustad in the first period and both received a five-minute fighting major. ... Nashville has outshot its opponent in each period this season.