The Dallas Stars scored twice in less than a minute in the middle of the third period to take the lead and held on for a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the host Nashville Predators on Saturday.
Mavrik Bourque had a goal and an assist, and Roope Hintz, Justin Hryckowian, Adam Erne and Sam Steel also scored for the Stars, who have points in eight of their last nine games (5-1-3). Defenseman Miro Heiskanen registered two assists and has six in his last two games. Wyatt Johnston also had two assists and Jake Oettinger made 17 saves.
Defenseman Nicolas Hague scored a goal and added an assist, while Luke Evangelista, Filip Forsberg and Steven Stamkos each scored for the Predators, who have lost seven of their last eight games (1-5-2). Ryan O’Reilly and defenseman Nick Blankenburg each contributed two assists, and Justus Annunen made 17 saves.
Erne and Steel scored 47 seconds apart to put Dallas ahead. Erne’s off-balance one-timer from the slot at 9:33 tied it, and Steel’s tip-in from the bottom of the right circle off the rush at 10:20 gave the Stars the lead.
Stamkos’ power-play goal gave Nashville a 4-3 lead 5:11 into the third on his patented one-time slap shot from the left circle. It was only Stamkos’ third goal.
Hryckowian tied the game 3-3, 2:20 into the third period when he put in his own rebound.
Hague and Forsberg scored 27 seconds apart early in the second period to give the Predators a 3-2 lead.
Hague got his first goal with Nashville 4:41 into the second when his wrist shot from the left point beat a screened Oettinger. Forsberg fired in a one-timer from the inside edge of the right circle at 5:10 for the 3-2 lead as he converted a pass from O’Reilly.
Hintz had given Dallas a 2-1 advantage with a power-play goal just 13 seconds into the middle period for his second goal in as many games.
It was a 1-1 tie after the first period. Bourque gave the Stars a 1-0 lead 6:26 into the game and then Evangelista tied it with 2:14 left.
