Mar 12, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars right wing Erik Cole (72) screens Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Predators shut out the Stars 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

In the final meeting of the season, the Dallas Stars face the Nashville Predators tonight at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. While Dallas sits in 10th place just three points out of the top eight, Nashville has fallen to 13th and has lost five out of the six games played in April, winning only to Colorado, who’s lingering at the bottom of the conference with Calgary.

The Stars are coming off a remarkable three-game win streak against inter-division California rivals Anaheim, San Jose and Los Angeles. Tuesday’s 5-1 victory over the defending Stanley Cup Champions stretched the Stars’ win streak to three, and a victory tonight would tie the longest streak the team has had this season.

The recent inflow of youth to the team through trades and recalls from Dallas’ Austin-based farm team has been a huge source of energy for the Stars. New Stars like Lane MacDermid and Alex Chaisson have grown from farm-team forwards to NHL rock stars. Both played huge roles in igniting the rocket that is propelling the Stars past team after team in the conference standings.

It hasn’t been all about the rookies though, and well-known names like Ray Whitney and Loui Eriksson have provided a balance between youth and experience that hasn’t been matched yet. Whitney was responsible for two of the Stars’ five goals Tuesday, and Eriksson notched an assist in Tuesday’s game and an assist in Sunday’s game against San Jose. Eriksson leads the team in goal scoring with 10 with Whitney right behind him at nine.

Starting goalie Kari Lehtonen will likely be on the bench tonight, nursing a mild groin injury incurred in Tuesday’s game. The Stars have been without Lehtonen between the pipes for an entire 60 minutes only four other times this season, bringing home a victory with Richard Bachman bringing as backup three of those four times, including Tuesday’s win over Los Angeles. Bachman denied 22 of 22 shots the Kings sent his way.

Nashville has had the upper hand against the Stars in the season’s previous two meetings, but that certainly isn’t an indicator of how tonight’s match may go. The Predators are short three strong forwards in Colin Wilson, Paul Gaustad and Gabriel Bourque, all out with injuries, and much like the Stars, the Predators lineup is full of AHL farm teamers.

The first puck drops tonight at 7:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest.

Feb 25, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) is congratulated by team mates after scoring against the Dallas Stars during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Stars, 7-3-1 in February, looked to continue its surge in Nashville as they went into the Bridgestone Arena to face off against the struggling Nashville Predators. It was a high scoring affair between them as the Stars lost in overtime to the Predators as Roman Josi scored his second goal in the game to give the Predators a 5-4 win.

Both the Stars and Predators struggled to create chances in the first period. The Stars almost made it 1-0 as Eric Nystrom had a beautiful chance as Vernon Fiddler fed him a beautiful pass but Pekka Rinne was faster with the pads and kept the game at 0-0 in the first period. The Stars were running around the net and looked like Vernon Fiddler didn’t even cover Rich Clune who got the puck around the net and passed it to Craig Smith who snapped it past Cristopher Nilstorp for a 1-0 Predators lead at the 13:41 mark in the first period.

It was a very feisty, intense second period as two Stars goals were scored 45 minutes apart as Matt Fraser tied the game up at 1-1 for his first NHL goal as he one timed it passed Rinne. Then Reilly Smith gave the Stars a 2-1 lead as he tipped in the puck that went past Rinne. The Predators tied the game up at 2-2 as Roman Josi bombed the puck past Nilstorp, who couldn’t see it at the 3:04 mark.

Vernon Fiddler, the former Predator, scored from the left circle after getting a beautiful pass from Jamie Benn with the Stars on the power play to make it 3-2 at the 7:29 mark. Then at the 9:21 mark Stars capitalized on the power play as Loui Eriksson fired one toward the net, deflected in by Josi to make it 4-2.  While on a five-on-three power play, Patric Hornqvist backhanded the puck past Nilstorp to make it 4-3 Stars at the 13:43 mark.

In the third period, a defensive breakdown for the Stars caused the tying goal for the Predators as Mike Fisher split the Stars defense and goes to the backhand that went behind Nilstorp to tie it up at 4-4 at the 8:22 mark.  Merely 28 seconds into overtime the Predators won 5-4 as Roman Josi scored when he slammed the puck past Nilstorp.

The next game for the Dallas Stars is tomorrow when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Nationwide Arena for a 6pm start.

Game Notes

Goal Scorers

Stars:   M. Fraser (01:20-2^nd), Reilly Smith (01:45-2^nd), V. Fiddler (PPG 07:29-2^nd), L. Eriksson (PPG, 09:21 – 2nd),

Predators: C. Smith (13:43-1^st), R. Josi (03:05, 2^nd), P. Hornqvist (PPG 13:43, 2^nd), M. Fisher (08:22, 3^rd), R. Josi (00:28-OT)

Goalies

Stars: Nilstorp stopped 26 shots out of the 31 shots he faced.

Predators: Rinne stopped 20 out of the 24 shots he faced.

Starting Line Up

Forwards

Morrow-Benn-Jagr
Fraser-Roy-Eriksson
Smith-Eakin-Ryder
Nystrom-Fiddler-Garbutt

Defense

Dillon-Robidas
Benn-Daley
Oleksiak-Goligoski

Goaltenders

Nilstorp (starter)

Bachman (back-up)

Scratches:  Antoine Roussel

Injuries: D Philip Larsen (head), D Aaron Rome (foot), G Kari Lehtonen (groin) and LW Ray Whitney (foot) are out.