Stars score 9, cruise past Predators for 3rd straight win

NASHVILLE – Wyatt Johnston had two goals and two assists and Matt Duchene scored twice in a 9-2 win for the Dallas Stars against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

The Stars (34-14-6) scored four goals in the first period. Ty Dellandrea and Tyler Seguin each had a goal and two assists, and Jake Oettinger made 20 saves before being replaced after two periods by Scott Wedgewood, who made seven saves.

It was the fourth time Dallas scored eight or more goals this season, the most in the NHL.

“I loved our start,” Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. “That’s probably the best start we’ve had all year. I thought we were on our toes executing. We’ve had a good schedule here recently. It starts to get busy now, but I thought we were rested. We had good legs, and I thought we looked really good.”

Juuse Saros made 14 saves on 18 shots before being replaced at the start of the second period by Kevin Lankinen, who made 18 saves. Cole Smith and Tommy Novak scored for the Predators (27-25-2), who have lost five of their past six (1-4-1).

“Just a terrible game by us,” Nashville defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “No other way to sugarcoat it. Weren’t ready to play. Lost every battle. Just gave them free offense and hung our goalie out to dry. That’s the worst part is leaving our goalies out to dry like that.”

Steel gave the Stars a 1-0 lead 35 seconds into the game on a shot that went through the legs of Predators defenseman Luke Schenn.

Duchene made it 2-0 at 4:27, taking a cross-ice pass from Mason Marchment on a 2-on-1.

“You never think you’re going to score nine, but we’re a really good offensive team,” Duchene said. “I think we’ve made some adjustments lately that made us even more dynamic. It’s working.”

Craig Smith pushed the lead to 3-0 at 12:31 on a one-timer of a pass by Steel, and Johnston made it 4-0 at 15:53 on a rebound in tight.

Dallas outshot Nashville 18-1 in the first period.

“It’s funny how it works, right?” Stars defenseman Ryan Suter said. “Some games, you dominate and you can’t buy a goal, and then some nights, it goes in. Tonight was one of those nights. The effort was there, so it starts with that, and then we were able to get some bounces.”

Miro Heiskanen made it 5-0 at 4:40 of the second off a wraparound ‘Michigan’ attempt by Johnston.

Smith scored for Nashville to make it 5-1 at 9:50 on a rebound off the blocker of Oettinger.

“It’s disappointing,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “I think it can only be addressed so many times. Either we’re not taking it seriously enough, or we’re not understanding. The response and the mindset are really disappointing.”

Seguin scored on the power play to make it 6-1 at 10:51.

Novak made it 6-2 with a backhand in tight at 11:21.

“Our season is on the line,” Predators defenseman Roman Josi said. “We need to figure it out. Saturday [at the St. Louis Blues] is going to be a huge game, especially after this one. Obviously, you never want to feel like that. You’ve got to bottle it up and find a way to motivate yourself.”

Duchene scored to push the lead to 7-2 with 12 seconds left in the second period on a breakaway.

Dellandrea extended the lead to 8-2 with a slap shot over the near shoulder of Lankinen at 3:50 of the third period, and Johnston converted a pass to the slot by Seguin on the power play at 8:50 for the 9-2 final.

“We got contributions from everyone,” DeBoer said. “Our fourth line got two of the first three goals. That was critical. You need depth scoring. I thought Duchene’s line was fantastic. They created something every time they were out there. Everyone was going tonight. We didn’t have any passengers.”

NOTES: Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist left the game with an upper-body injury after taking a hit from Jeremy Lauzon in the first period. He did not return and there was no update after the game. … Marchment (two assists) extended his point streak to eight games. … The only time the Stars have scored more goals in the opening period of a game was Jan 31, 2017 against Toronto (five). … Dallas scored eight goals on the road for the second time this season (also an 8-3 win on Nov. 12 at Minnesota) and are the only team to do so multiple times. … Seguin scored to record his ninth 20-goal season with the Stars – fourth most in franchise history behind Mike Modano (16), Brian Bellows (10) and Jamie Benn (10). … Novak extended his point streak to five games. … It was the sixth time in Predators history they had only one shot on goal in a period.