Dallas Stars Look To Finish Off 2015 With Win Over Predators
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars will look to regain their composure after a 6-3 loss in Columbus on Tuesday night. Their next chance at a victory comes tonight at home against the Nashville Predators.
The Dallas Stars will play their final game of the 2015 calendar year tonight at home against Central Division opponent the Nashville Predators. They will look to revive themselves after an ugly 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. They will now face off with the Predators for the first time this season and look for their seventh win of the season among Central Division opponents.
The game will be broadcasted on Fox Sports Southwest Plus (FSSW+), and you can also hear it on 1310AM/96.7FM The Ticket. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.
Records and Scores
The Dallas Stars are still atop the NHL, though the Washington Capitals have a chance to overtake them with their three games in hand. Nonetheless, the Stars are still shining bright. Their record of 27-8-3 with 57 points has them atop everything and looking down on the rest of the league. Their most recent game comes as a 6-3 aggravating loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. They are 3-1-1 in their last five games.
The Nashville Predators are also having a somewhat successful season. They are 18-12-7 with 43 points, which is good enough for fifth place in the Central Division. It is a stacked division to say the least, which doesn’t help the Predators cause. Their most recent game comes as a 4-3 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. They are also 3-1-1 in their last five contests.
Storylines
Dallas Stars cannot afford another hot goalie
The Dallas Stars looked like their regular selves on Tuesday, but sadly could not pull off the win against the Blue Jackets. Combining a couple of miscues and an unbelievable performance by the goaltender, the Stars could not close the gap and fell 6-3. That was only the Stars eleventh time this season to not leave a game with two points.
But the majority of the 11 losses have come at the hands of a hot opposing goaltender. Of the 11 games the Stars have lost this season, the opposing net-minder’s average save percentage was .942, which is a stellar showing. The Predators have two goalies who can be dangerous if the mood catches them right. If the Stars are going to win, they cannot afford another Curtis McElhinney.
The Stars had an excellent showing of offense the other night against the Blue Jackets, putting up 43 shots on net. They own a high-caliber offense that can steal wins even when their defense is in a rut. They need that offense to be able to capitalize tonight on all of their opportunities if they want to grab their first win of the season against the Predators.
Predators struggling with a stacked Central Division
The Central Division just is not a fair division to be in unless you are the best team in the NHL. There is too much consistency, too much leadership, and too much overall chemistry. The Dallas Stars learned that lesson last year, and the Nashville Predators are learning it this year.
The Predators are having a decent season this year, with 43 points. But the Central Division’s skill is pinning them back. If they were in the Pacific Division, they would be in second place. Instead, they are holding onto the final playoff spot and are five points away from falling out to the Colorado Avalanche, who just happen to be a Central team as well.
The Predators are playing well, but surprisingly have to do more if they want to stay alive in the packed Central Division.
Injury report
The Dallas Stars lost RW Ales Hemsky (lower body) on Tuesday after he took a puck to the leg. He will be the only Dallas injury tonight.
The Nashville Predators will be minus the services of LW Gabriel Bourque (upper body).
Projected lines
Dallas Stars
Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Patrick Sharp
Mattias Janmark – Jason Spezza – Valeri Nichushkin
Antoine Roussel – Cody Eakin – Colton Sceviour
Travis Moen – Vernon Fiddler – Patrick Eaves
Alex Goligoski – John Klingberg
More from Blackout Dallas
- Dallas Stars Traverse City Tournament: Who had great performances?
- Grushnikov and Stankoven lead Dallas Stars to 6-3 win over Columbus
- Dallas Stars prospects look to wrap up tournament with a win
- Burn the tapes: Dallas Stars prospects lose 5-1 to Toronto Maple Leafs
- Dallas Stars look to continue success today against the Maple Leafs
Nashville Predators
Filip Forsberg – Mike Ribeiro – Craig Smith
Colin Wilson – Mike Fisher – Viktor Arvidsson
Miikka Salomaki – Calle Jarnkrok – James Neal
Eric Nystrom – Paul Gaustad – Austin Watson
Prediction
The Dallas Stars will close out their magical 2015 year with a bang and continue their streak of not losing in back-to-back games. I like the Stars 4-2 in this high-intensity Central Division matchup.