The Dallas Stars kicked off a five-game post-Christmas homestand in style, capturing a workmanlike 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators at the American Airlines Center on Friday night. Dallas is 5-1-1 in seven games since a loss in Nashville earlier this month, including a 4-0-1 mark in the last five matches.
Jamie Benn got the Stars off and running, with a goal in the opening minute of the first period. Erik Cole, who has recorded three of his eight goals and five of his nine points on the season over his last four games, notched a pair of tallies. Ryan Garbutt added an additional insurance goal on a deflection early in the third period.
Kari Lehtonen appears to be back on the top of his game after some rough patches earlier in the month. He played very well in the final game before the Christmas break. Last night, he picked up where he left off in Monday's game in Los Angeles. The big Finn turned back 33 of 34 Nashville shots. Only a point-blank shot by an unguarded Kevin Klein in the second period got past Lehtonen.
Benn's game-opening goal was a thing of beauty. With the teams changing lines, Benn carried the puck up the left wing and easily eluded defenseman Klein, swung behind the net and then scored on the wraparound. The goal was the Stars captain's third in his last four games.
With Sergei Gonchar still sidelined with concussion-like symptoms, veteran depth defenseman Aaron Rome was activated from the injured reserve list and played last night. In 16:59 of ice time, he blocked three shots and was a plus-two on the night.
The Stars return to action tomorrow night, facing a tough test. Ken Hitchcock and his St. Louis Blues (24-7-5 overall, 10-4-3 on the road) will be in town. Game time is 5 p.m. central.
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