STARS VS. PREDATORS ABBREVIATED GAME PREVIEW
Looking to better their 1-7-1 record in January and get back on the winning track, the Dallas Stars (21-19-8) are in Music City to take on the Nashville Predators (21-22-7). Game time is 7:00 p.m. The match will be televised locally on Fox Sports Southwest.
This is the third of five games in the season series. Each team has won on home ice, with Nashville winning 3-1 on Dec. 13 and the Stars winning 4-1 on Dec. 27. After tonight's game, the clubs will not play again until meeting in Dallas on March 28 and in Nashville on April 8.
The Stars, who have scored more than two goals just once in the last six games and have yielded three or more regulation or overtime goals in six games. Dallas played a generally solid game against Minnesota on Saturday but went down to a 3-2 defeat in overtime.
The Predators have also struggled this month but have played better hockey of late. The Preds were unable to hold a third-period lead but salvaged a 4-3 win via shootout two nights after beating Calgary, 4-2. On Saturday night, the Predators dropped a 5-4 game to Colorado.
On the injury front, Pekka Rinne (IR, hip) and Kevin Klein (flu) are sidelined for Nashville. Stephane Robidas (fractured tibia) is on injured reserve for the Stars.