Comeau, Janmark help Stars defeat Predators

NASHVILLE -- The Dallas Stars extended their winning streak to four games with a 3-1 victory against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.

Blake Comeau and Mattias Janmark scored 43 seconds apart in the third period for the Stars (27-21-4), who pulled within eight points of the Predators for second place in the Central Division. Anton Khudobin made 38 saves.
"It's a really big win," Comeau said. "I felt like we came out a little bit flat, but as the game went along we started to get better and better. And I thought in the third we really ramped it up. That's something we've addressed as of late was making sure that we come out and have good, strong thirds.
WATCH: [All Stars vs. Predators highlights]
"Our first 10 minutes were really good. We were creating a lot of chances and a lot of shots, and [Khudobin] played outstanding for us tonight to keep us in it, and we got some timely goals."
Calle Jarnkrok scored for Nashville (31-19-4), which had its three-game winning streak end. Pekka Rinne made 23 saves.
"I thought we played a pretty good first two periods," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "I didn't like the way we started the third period. I thought that they came out, probably in the first five or six minutes, and just stayed in our end and outworked us a little bit, got some opportunities, some chances. I thought we corrected it for about 10 minutes after that. The game was going back and forth. We got caught on a defensive breakdown for the second goal."

Comeau gave the Stars a 2-1 lead at 15:47 on a rebound from the slot. Janmark threw the puck toward the net, and Comeau scored his sixth goal.
"I dumped it in and [Radek Faksa] did a great job of winning the race to the puck," Comeau said. "He came around the net and gave it to [Janmark], and I just tried to go to the net. I actually thought [Janmark] was going to shoot and he made a great pass. I'm not sure if it went off of my skate or my stick, but I saw it pop out there and slid it home."
The Predators challenged for goaltender interference, but the goal stood following a video review.
Janmark extended the lead to 3-1 at 16:30 on a rebound from below the left face-off circle. It was his fourth goal.
"Absolutely, it gains confidence," Stars defenseman John Klingberg said. "We're still building on something here. Defensively, again, I think we're doing a good job, and obviously the goalies are playing really good as well. Khudobin was real good today, so we'll just keep building here."
Jarnkrok gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 9:35 of the first period on a wrist shot from the right face-off circle for his ninth goal.
Tyler Seguin tied it 1-1 at 11:11 on a one-timer off a pass from Alexander Radulov. It was Seguin's 21st goal.
"I don't think our start was good," Khudobin said. "We need to find a way to start a back-to-back on the road better, but as the game goes on we kept the intensity better and better. I think we had more legs in the third period, I would say, and we got the result."

They said it

"A lot of guys were saying that's the toughest building to play. The fans are loud. They're playing pretty good hockey. They're playing fast, they're playing physical … and that was a good test and luckily we won." -- Stars goalie Anton Khudobin
"We keep talking about it and keep talking about it. We just have to find a way. That's all I can say about it at this point." -- forward Colton Sissons on the Predators failing to score on the power play in their past 32 opportunities

Need to know

Seguin has three goals in his past two games. … Faksa and defenseman Esa Lindell each had two assists for the Stars. … Predators defenseman P.K. Subban had six shots on goal and 10 shot attempts.

What's next

Stars:Host the Arizona Coyotes on Monday (8:30 p.m. ET; FS-SW, FS-A PLUS, NHL.TV)
Predators: Host the Coyotes on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; FS-TN, FS-A, NHL.TV)