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Stars Notch Critical Shootout Victory over Predators 4-3

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The Dallas Stars finally took down the Nashville Predators 4-3 in a shootout victory. Ben Bishop drew the start in goal and finished with 29 saves on 32 shots including some monster work in the overtime frame.

The game got off to a rocky start for the Stars. On the first shift, Alexander Radulov drew a tripping minor that went uncalled. As the Predators broke out, Jamie Benn and Remi Elie had a collision with a Nashville defender which gave Alexei Emelin plenty of space to score from the slot. On the next shift, Kevin Fiala had a breakaway that Bishop had to stop.

The Stars had the benefit of four power plays in the first period with mixed results. On the second power play, John Klingberg and Benn turned the puck over on a zone entry which led to a shorthanded goal for Calle Jarnkrok. Down two goals with the game threatening to get away from them, the Stars answered back with three consecutive goals, beginning with a one timer goal from Tyler Seguin on the power play.

After both Bishop and Predators goaltender Juuse Saros were forced to make big saves in the second period, the Stars drew even halfway through when Antoine Roussel crashed the net and put back a rebound. Roman Josi turned the puck over to Jason Spezza at his own blue line to give the Stars a 3-on-1 opportunity. Martin Hanzal scored his third goal of the season on an easy tip-in after Gemel Smith had the initial shot.

There were a couple of close calls for the Stars. Cody McLeod whiffed on a gorgeous cross-crease pass that would’ve tied the game. Stephen Johns broke his stick when trying to clear the zone and had to crouch block the ensuing shot.

Ryan Johansen got the equalizer in the third period when Alexander Radulov went to the penalty box for a high sticking call. Johansen took a pass from P.K. Subban and beat Bishop short side as Bishop was being screened by Viktor Arvidsson. The Stars had a shift afterward that almost got them the lead again, but the Predators defense scrambled and scraped to keep the puck out of the net.

Benn committed a tripping minor in the overtime frame to give the Predators their third power play of the game. The Stars stayed stout on the penalty kill until a clearing attempt resulted in a cross checking call on Dan Hamhuis to give the Predators a 5-on-3. Miraculously, the Stars killed everything off with the help of Bishop and Hanzal to send it to a shootout. Radulov and Seguin bested Saros to give the Stars the win.

Play of the Game

When Ryan Johansen scored the game tying goal in the third period, the Stars answered with a shift that had the Predators scrambling. Juuse Saros made the initial save, and about four different defenders had to chip in to defend his net while he was recovering. It was the type of urgency that has the Predators sitting at the top of the Central division.

The Upset Three Stars of the Game

1. John Klingberg (2 A) – Klingberg continued his top scoring pace for defenseman by tallying to assists and helping the Stars generate precious scoring against their rival.

2. Ryan Johansen (1 PPG, 1 A) – The top line center scored an important power play goal to tie the game in the third period when the Stars had the upper hand.

3. Martin Hanzal (1 G) – Hanzal scored in the second period to pull the Stars ahead. More importantly, his penalty kill work in overtime was the difference between winning and losing.

The Goals

First Period

:34 Jamie Benn and Remi Elie got tied up in the neutral zone which gave Alexei Emelin plenty of time to take the pass, waltz into the slot, and beat Ben Bishop as he used Alexander Radulov for a screen. Stars 0, Predators 1

7:03 An awkward exchange on the power play zone entry between John Klingberg and Jamie Benn gave Colton Sissons a chance to steal the puck. Sissons hit Calle Jarnkrok with a drop pass who beat Ben Bishop high corner for a shorthanded goal. Stars 0, Predators 2

12:13 The offense was going nowhere on the third power play for the Stars until Tyler Seguin got them on the board with a one timer from the right circle. Jamie Benn and John Klingberg had the assists. Stars 1, Predators 2

Second Period

10:05 After Radek Faksa missed the net from all alone in the slot, Tyler Pitlick won the puck back and got it to John Klingberg who fired on net. Antoine Roussel crashed in and batted the rebound in out of the air for his second goal in two games. Stars 2, Predators 2

13:18 Jason Spezza picked off an errant pass from Roman Josi at the Nashville blue line and created a 3-on-1. Gemel Smith’s initial attempt bounce off of Juuse Saros’ shin pad onto the stick of Martin Hanzal who had an easy goal. Stars 3, Predators 2

Third Period

4:45 Ryan Johansen scored on the power play to even the game up, beating Ben Bishop short side as Viktor Arvidsson set a perfect screen. Stars 3, Predators 3

Overtime

No goals

Predators lineup
Filip Forsberg — Ryan Johansen — Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala — Kyle Turris — Craig Smith
Calle Jarnkrok — Colton Sissons — Scott Hartnell
Cody McLeod — Nick Bonino — Austin Watson

Roman Josi — Mattias Ekholm
Alexei Emelin — P.K. Subban
Anthony Bitetto — Yannick Weber

Juuse Saros
Pekka Rinne

Injured: Ryan Ellis (knee)

Scratched: Pontus Aberg, Matt Irwin, Miikka Salomaki

Stars lineup
Remi Elie — Jamie Benn — Alexander Radulov
Mattias Janmark — Tyler Seguin — Devin Shore
Gemel Smith — Martin Hanzal — Jason Spezza
Antoine Roussel — Radek Faksa — Tyler Pitlick

Esa Lindell — John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis — Greg Pateryn
Stephen Johns — Julius Honka

Ben Bishop
Kari Lehtonen

Injured: Marc Methot (knee)

Scratched: Brett Ritchie

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