[8:30 PM] Predators @ Stars

Who will WIN this matchup?

Nashville Predators (12-9-4)

@ Dallas Stars (10-11-6)

 

Starting Goalies:

Pekka Rinne(NSH): Confirmed

Kari Lehtonen(DAL): Likely

 

• Coming off a season in which they led the Western Conference in points, the Dallas Stars have been among the league’s biggest disappointments as they prepare to host the Nashville Predators on Thursday. The Stars are coming off a 2-1 home loss to Calgary, denying them a chance to win back-to-back games for only the second time this season.

• James Neal was on a goal-scoring binge for Nashville, registering nine goals in a 10-game span before an upper-body injury sidelined him for four games. Neal returned to the lineup Tuesday and showed the absence didn’t cool him off, scoring his team-high 11th goal.

• Defenseman Julius Honka, Dallas’ first-round draft pick (No. 14 overall) in 2014, had to leave Tuesday’s game due to an upper-body injury and is expected to sit out the next two contests. Another first-round pick, forward Jason Dickinson, was called up from the minors and will make his season debut — he scored in his first and only NHL game last season.

• Stars C Jason Spezza is in a 12-goal goal-scoring drought, but he has 11 tallies and 21 points in 20 games versus Nashville.

• Predators F Viktor Arvidsson scored his eight goal Tuesday, matching his career high established in 56 games last season.

• Dallas has outscored Nashville 33-15 in winning seven of the last eight matchups at home

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Dallas Stars

Confidence: 5/10

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