DALLAS (AP) — Jason Robertson tipped in shots from John Klingberg twice on the power play, Luke Glendening scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Dallas Stars beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Roope Hintz had his team-leading 21st goal in the opener of a crucial stretch of eight consecutive games against Central Division opponents for the playoff-chasing Stars.
The division rivals were playing for the first time since the All-Star break, which came with both on a roll. Dallas has now won six of eight, while Nashville lost for the second time in six games.
The game was a makeup of one of the postponements from the league's COVID-19 pause in late December and early January.
Matt Duchene scored his 22nd for the Predators, who erased one-goal deficits with each of their goals. Eeli Tolvanen and Yakov Trenin also scored for Nashville. All-Star Roman Josi had two assists.
with a sprawling swipe at the puck while prone on the ice in the Dallas zone. He jumped up to join a 2-on-1 with Michael Raffl, who fed Glendening for the shot past Juuse Saros. The All-Star goalie stopped 23 of 27 shots.
The teams traded two goals apiece in the final four minutes of the second period.
The second power-play connection between Robertson and Klingberg put Dallas up 2-1 before Duchene beat Jake Oettinger just 18 seconds later. Oettinger stopped 20 of 23 shots.
Robertson's goals, both on tips of shots by Klingberg near the blue line, were Robertson's 18th and 19th. Klingberg has 24 assists.
After Hintz put the Stars back in front with his team-leading 21st goal with 2:01 remaining in the second, Trinen pulled Nashville even again with just nine seconds left. Trinen poked home a loose puck in a crowd around the crease with Miro Heiskanen trying to hold him off.
The Stars lost a challenge on Trinen's goal, so they spent most of the first two minutes of the third period killing the penalty for delay of game. The Predators didn't have any great chances on the power play.
The first Klingberg-Robertson connection opened the scoring in the first period. Nashville erased the first of three straight one-goal deficits on Tolvanen's 55-foot shot from the left point.
NOTES: Trinen was initially called for a major penalty in the first period on a check near Klingberg's head, which made contact the boards before his body. The penalty was reduced to a minor for elbowing on review. Dallas captain Jamie Benn was called for roughing on the same play for going after Trinen after the check when the puck was still in play. ... Filip Forsberg had an assist but had a four-game streak of at least two points stopped. No Nashville player has had five consecutive games with at least two points. ... Dallas All-Star Joe Pavelski was held without a point for the fourth consecutive game after a six-game scoring streak.
UP NEXT
Predators: Host Winnipeg on Saturday.
Stars: Host Winnipeg in fifth game of six-game homestand on Friday.
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