[ComfortEagle]

Per http://www.nashvillepredators.com


After battling through a scoreless first two periods, David Legwand scored 0:47 into the third period and the Predators got the better end of mid-period flurry for a 3-1 win at Dallas on Saturday night. Dan Ellis, who posted a 22-save shutout in the Predators first trip to Dallas on New Years Eve, turned aside 24 shots to pick up the win tonight.

The Predators also survived a wild 0:53 span mid way through the third period, as the Stars scored 0:30 after the Preds gained a 2-0 lead, only to see Nashville reclaim the two-goal bulge 0:23 later.

The teams both got off to slow starts as each team only generated one shot on goal through the first 6:00 of action. The pace picked up later in the period as the Predators killed three power-plays early in the frame. On Nashville's first power-play, midway through the opening period, the Preds created several quality chances including Shea Weber in the final seconds of the PP chance. Though the teams remained scoreless, Nashville held an 11-7 edge in shots through 20:00 of play.

The Predators generated a pair of quality chances on an early second period power-play, however Jason Arnott and Weber both missed wide through screens. In the middle of the period the combination of Legwand-Martin Erat-Jan Hlavac created two other quality chances.

Dallas changed the momentum late in the period with three good shots while shorthanded, including a toe save on Nik Hagman's shot and a pad save on Stu Barnes off the rebound. The Stars then drew a pair of penalties in the final moments of the frame to create a five-on-three advantage for 0:43. Ellis made some sprawling saves and then got help from Dan Hamhuis who turned aside a sure goal with a diving shoulder stop at the goal line as the front end of the five-on-three expired.

The back half of the power-play carried over to the start of the third period. With Ryan Suter coming out of the box, the Predators broke out in transition. Suter carried the play into the offensive zone and passed to Ville Koistinen on the left wing. Koistinen passed the puck back across the grain to Legwand down the right wing. With Erat providing a screen crashing to the net, Legwand snapped a shot inside the near side post for his 15th goal of the season.

The offense opened up from there. J.P. Dumont hit the post on the power-play at 16:25 and moments later Marty Turco robbed Jason Arnott off a give-and-go move with Dumont.

The grind line of Vernon Fiddler-Scott Nichol-Jordin Tootoo continued the Predators offensive pressure cycling the puck deep in the corner. Dallas attempted to break it up, but Fiddler immediately created a turnover and fed Tootoo at the near side face-off dot for a 2-0 Nashville lead.

The Stars answered 0:30 later on Mike Ribiero's 27th goal of the season. In transition, Ribiero came down the right wing, made a deke move to create space, and snapped a shot past Ellis to bring the Stars momentarily within one goal. However the Predators responded back 0:23 later with the top line of Arnott-Dumont-Alexander Radulov combining on the Nashville score. Arnott broke in one-on-goalie, drew the attention of Turco and a hard-charging Stars defenseman, and then flipped a pass over Dumont who banged the puck high for his 24th goal of the season, tying his line mates for the team lead.

Post-Game Notes:
The Predators won the season series against the Stars 3-1-0, out scoring Dallas 12-8 in the process … Eight different Predators players recorded a point in the game ... Ellis stopped 46-of-47 shots in two games at American Airlines Arena … Legwand is the fifth Predators player to reach the 15-goal mark this season … Legwand has goals in back-to-back games for the first time since a three-game goal scoring streak from Nov. 1-4 … Suter has five points (2g-3a) in his last six games … Koistinen has points in his last two games played (1g-1a).