National Hockey League
Nashville 2, Dallas 0
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, March 5, 2020
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees: Eric Furlatt, Steve Kozari
Linesmen: Derek Nansen, Bryan Pancich
Attendance: 17349

Filip Forsberg and Matt Duchene ended lengthy goal droughts by scoring on the power play, and Juuse Saros made 33 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Nashville Predators snapped their three-game slide with a 2-0 win over the visiting Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

Fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, the Predators rode some solid special teams play to take the front end of a home-and-home set with Dallas. Nashville went 2-for-4 on the power play and killed all four penalties to beat the Stars for the first time in three meetings this season.

The teams square off again Saturday afternoon in Dallas.

It was a spirited effort by the Predators in their first home game since a tornado ravaged the Nashville area late Monday night.

Saros came up big often, especially during the third period when Dallas stepped up the pressure. It was his fourth win in six starts and his 10th career shutout.

Forsberg snapped a 16-game goal drought, and Duchene ended a nine-game dry spell.

Anton Khudobin stopped 30 shots for Dallas, which sits third in the Central Division but is mired in an 0-2-2 rut. The Stars also dropped their third straight on the road.

With 53 seconds left in the first period, Nashville opened the scoring during its second power play of the night. Forsberg skated through the right circle untouched, then got enough on the puck to beat Khudobin for his 19th goal of the season and first since Jan. 30.

Nashville struck again on the man advantage with 6:16 left in the second period. This time, Duchene deflected in a blast from Calle Jarnkrok for just his third goal over a 24-game stretch.

Nashville's Roman Josi matched a career high with his 47th assist to extend his point streak to five games. The talented defenseman leads the Predators with a career-high 63 points.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Dallas   Nashville
N/A Points Matt Duchene 1
N/A Goals Matt Duchene 1
N/A Assists Viktor Arvidsson 1
N/A Power Play Goals Matt Duchene 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Anton Khudobin .938 Save Percentage Juuse Saros 1.000
Anton Khudobin 30 Saves Juuse Saros 33
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Dallas 33 0 0-4 2-4 8 28
Nashville 32 2 2-4 4-4 8 28
Upcoming Games
  • Nashville will play their next game on the road against Dallas. The Predators have a W/L % of .485 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • Dallas will play their next game at home against Nashville. The Stars have a W/L % of .605 after a win and .483 after a loss.