The Stars expected a big push from Nashville early Wednesday night, and they got it.
The Predators were on top of Dallas early with pressure and physical play and grabbed a 1-0 lead they took into the first intermission. But the Stars started to play their game in the second period, tied the game and then scored two goals in the first half of the third period to build a 3-1 lead in the game. Then they held off the Predators the rest of the way.
"We knew they were going to come out hard," said Stars defenseman John Klingberg. "We were happy with our first period, but we settled in pretty good and took over the game. That's exactly how we wanted to play. We did a good job."
The Predators put five shots on goal in the first 68 seconds of the game and Ben Bishop had a couple of big saves to keep them off the board. The Predators were physical early in the game, recording 14 hits in the first period including a big one by Brian Boyle on Jason Dickinson that sidelined the Dallas forward for about 20 minutes of game time.
Nashville scored the only goal of the first. After a Colton Sissons hit on Miro Heiskanen helped the Predators win a puck battle, the puck moved around to Roman Josi at the left point, and the Predators defenseman worked his way into the slot and scored off a backhand shot at the 12:12 mark.
The Stars pushed back in the second period and scored on their second power play of the night to tie the game 1-1. After a great chance by Roope Hintz driving the net, the puck went to Miro Heiskanen at the point, and the Stars defenseman put a move on Predators forward Austin Watson to open a shooting lane, and his shot from the point deflected in the net off Nashville defenseman Mattias Ekholm.
Heiskanen helped put the Stars ahead 2-1 in the third period. After losing a faceoff in the Nashville zone, the Stars got the puck back, and John Klingberg set up Heiskanen whose shot from the left point was deflected into the net by Alexander Radulov at the 6:10 mark. A little more than four minutes later, the Stars were up 3-1. Jamie Benn won a puck battle behind the Nashville net, got puck to Ben Lovejoy who put a shot on goal from the right point, and Mats Zuccarello scored on the rebound at the 10:39 mark.
"Jamie Benn's will and determination, he can't be stopped," said Montgomery. "When he wants to win that puck, he's going to go win it. That's why he's our captain."
Nashville made it interesting on a slick goal by defenseman P.K. Subban, who eluded a couple of Dallas defenders and scored from the right circle to make it a 3-2 game with 6:36 left. Nashville got a late power play - their fourth of the game - but couldn't cash in. They pulled goaltender Pekka Rinne for an extra attacker, but couldn't get the equalizer.
"We started with a win, that's nice," Zuccarello said on the Stars TV broadcast. "It's only one game. It's a long series. We're going to be excited tonight and prepare for our next game."
