:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5043281/136009970.jpg)
After pulling out a last-minute victory over Columbus last night, the Nashville Predators hustled out of town for a Friday night matchup with the Dallas Stars (7:30 p.m. on FS-TN), the first meeting between these two teams this season. The Stars jumped out to an early lead in the Pacific Division, but have recently been caught by San Jose. So from their perspective, Dallas will be looking to earn a crucial home win and hang on to first place.
Follow after the jump for a brief breakdown!
Tale Of The Tape
| Nashville (18-12-4) at Dallas (19-13-1) | |||||||
| NSH Offense vs. DAL Defense | DAL Offense vs. NSH Defense | ||||||
| 5-on-5 | |||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| NSH Offense | 2.1 (24th) | 25.5 (29th) | 8.3 (15th) | 2.3 (8th) | 31.3 (27th) | 928 (7th) | NSH Defense |
| DAL Defense | 2.6 (18th) | 31.7 (30th) | 918 (13th) | 2.4 (16th) | 29.7 (14th) | 7.9 (23rd) | DAL Offense |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
| Special Teams | |||||||
| NSH PP vs. DAL PK | DAL PP vs. NSH PK | ||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| NSH 5-on-4 | 7.1 (5th) | 50.9 (13th) | 13.9 (7th) | 6.5 (19th) | 52.6 (22nd) | 876 (18th) | NSH 4-on-5 |
| DAL 4-on-5 | 7.0 (23rd) | 52.5 (21st) | 867 (19th) | 5.0 (23rd) | 40.0 (30th) | 12.6 (12th) | DAL 5-on-4 |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
The Stars are one of a few teams (including Minnesota and yes, Nashville) whose underlying Shots For & Against numbers suggest that they're due for a dropoff compared to the Win/Loss record they've assembled so far. Hopefully the Preds' PK group can settle things down against one of the league's lesser power plays.
Dallas Stars
The Stars have been a streaky team this season, starting at 11-3, then going through a rough patch before getting back on track recently with four wins in their last 6 games. For the scoop on all things Dallas, head over to Defending Big D.
Nashville Predators
The big question with the Predators will be whether or not Kevin Klein will be ready to play, after missing the last two contests with the flu.
With 3 assists against the Blue Jackets, look who has taken over the team scoring lead:
And in goal? The plan heading in to this set was for Pekka Rinne to play against both Columbus and Dallas, but does last night's game impact that thinking at all? I would doubt it, but you never know...