Dallas Stars Come Together in Team Effort Win Over Predators, 5-2

VS.

	1	2	3	T
Predators	1	0	1	2
Stars	2	3	0	5

The Dallas Stars defeated the Nashville Predators 5-2 in one of their best team efforts of late.

Recap

The first period started with a Stars goal by Jamie Benn midway through to put Dallas up 1-0. Brett Ritchie then got in on the scoring less than 30 seconds later to go up 2-0. The Predators scored with just under four minutes remaining in the first period to cut the Stars’ lead to one. Dallas took their 2-1 advantage into the first intermission.

Jason Spezza scored about three and a half minutes into the second period to put the Stars up 3-1, followed by an Antoine Roussel goal that put Dallas up 4-1. Radek Faksa looked to have scored with a few minutes remaining, but the call was challenged by the Predators and deemed no goal due to goaltender interference.

On the ensuing Stars power play Tyler Seguin scored a top shelf goal from the top of the circle to put Dallas up 5-1. The Stars went into the second intermission with their four-goal advantage in tact.

The third period yield chances for each team, but only one Predators tally. Dallas won the game in a decisive 5-2 effort.

Thoughts and Observations

Benn is Back

Jamie Benn had been noticeably different over the Stars last few games, especially their losses. He was not skating the way the normally dominant captain usually does and it was obvious that something was off.

Whatever was affecting him, though, seems to be gone now. This game saw Benn with strong skating ability, a physicality that he has lacked for most of the season and a great goal to open scoring in the first period.

The Dallas Stars typically go in the direction that Jamie Benn does and this game seemed to do the same. He was a dynamic player yet again on the ice for the Stars and whether that was motivated by the string of less than impressive games Dallas has had over the last few weeks or something else, it was great to see.

High Intensity

This game featured a lot of strong plays based around speed and strength. Jamie Oleksiak was throwing around his 6’7 250 pound frame at the opening of the game and that trend continued throughout.

Roussel had a pep in his step and was able to manufacture offense because of it. Although he sat in the penalty box for a few minutes tonight, nothing No. 21 did was out of hand and his play was impressive.

Seguin and Spezza also managed to find the back of the net for Dallas, which was a step in the right direction for two players that have struggled of late.

Next Game

Overall tonight was a great example of how complete of a game the Stars are capable of playing. While it is important to see them perform with confidence at home, it is disappointing to realize that they have spent most of the season playing in an underwhelming manner.

Dallas will have an opportunity, however, to continue their winning ways as they pay a visit to the City of Brotherly Love to take on the Philadelphia Flyers this Saturday afternoon.