NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Roman Josi scored with 1:22 remaining to give the Nashville Predators a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.
Ryan Johansen also scored and Juuse Saros made 22 saves for Nashville, winners of two straight.
John Klingberg scored and Jake Oettinger made 29 saves for Dallas, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.
With time winding down in the third, Josi fired a one-timer from the left point by Oettinger for the game-winner.
The teams entered Tuesday in the Western Conference’s two wild-card positions. Nashville moved one point ahead of the Stars with the victory, with each team having played 56 games.
Klingberg finally broke the scoreless tie 32 seconds into the third period.
Just after the opening faceoff of the third period, his wrist shot from above the right circle deflected off Nashville forward Eeli Tolvanen and past Saros, who had traffic in front of him.
With the teams skating 4-on-4, Johansen tied the game at 13:08 of the third.
Alexandre Carrier carried the puck on the left side and found Johansen in the slot. There, he drove to the left before beating Oettinger with a backhand.
SCORING AGAIN
With his goal, Klingberg ended a couple of slumps. His goal was his second of the season but first since Dec. 18, a stretch of 25 games without a goal. Tuesday was Klingberg’s 36th career regular season game played against Nashville, and the first goal he scored against the Predators. He has 24 assists in his career against Nashville.
PENALTY-KILL PROWESS
Dallas has not allowed a Nashville power-play goal in four games played this season. After denying the Predators on both of their opportunities with the man advantage Tuesday, the Stars concluded the season series with Nashville a perfect 12 for 12 on the penalty kill.
100 CLUB
Tolvanen skated in his 100th career NHL game Tuesday. Nashville selected Tolvanen in the first round, 30th overall, in the 2017 Entry Draft. Tolvanen has seven goals and 10 assists in 53 games played this season. Six (one goal, five assists) of his 17 points this season have come on the power play.
OETTINGER AGAIN
Oettinger made his 13th start in Dallas’ last 15 games. He is 9-3-1 in those games, backstopping the Stars in their charge up the standings of late.
NEXT UP
Predators: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
Stars: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday.
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