Game Day: Preds vs. Stars Preview

The Preds returned from Europe with four points and a lifetime of memories from the 2022 NHL Global Series, and they will kick off their 2022-23 home slate Thursday at Bridgestone Arena against the Dallas Stars. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN+/Hulu.
Fans are encouraged to head to the Bridgestone Arena Plaza at 3:30 p.m. Thursday as the Preds walk the Gold Carpet before kicking off their 2022-23 home slate. No special ticket is required for entry to the plaza.

It's been a busy week in Smashville, as the Preds finalized their 23-man roster and resumed practices following their two-game sweep of the San Jose Sharks in Prague, and Bridgestone Arena unveiled several new renovations and food options ahead of Thursday's home opener. Here's what you need to know before the game:

The Good Guys

Newcomers dominated the scoresheets in Nashville's first two games in Prague. Nino Niederreiter, who signed as a free agent with Nashville in July, scored three goals in two games against San Jose, including twice in Saturday's win. As of games played through Oct. 11, Niederreiter leads the NHL in goals (3) and points (3).
Kiefer Sherwood, who also signed with Nashville as a free agent this offseason, had two points (1g-1a) in his Predators debut on Friday vs. San Jose.
Ryan McDonagh also recorded two points (2a) in his first two games with Nashville, including an assist on Sherwood's goal. In doing so, he became the fifth defenseman in Predators history to record at least a point in each of his first two games with the franchise.

The Other Guys

Dallas will kick off its 2022-23 slate in Nashville as Head Coach Peter DeBoer enters his first season behind the Stars bench. Dallas went 46-30-6 overall and 14-8-4 in division play last season.

All-Time Meetings

The Predators are 48-46-(1)-5 all-time against the Stars, including a 31-17-(1)-2 record at Bridgestone Arena. This is the first of four matchups between Nashville and Dallas in 2022-23 and the first of two at home. The Preds will face their Central Division rivals twice in the span of three days when they travel to Dallas on Saturday.
Nashville went 3-1-0 against Dallas last season, winning both games on home ice. The Predators have earned at least a point in 19 of their last 27 games vs. Dallas (18-8-1) and scored at least four goals (including the shootout winner) in 11 of their last 20 victories over the Stars.

Notables vs. Dallas

• Juuse Saros is 12-4-1 in his career vs. Dallas, posting three shutouts, a 2.18 goals-against average and .925 save percentage in 17 career games against the Stars.
• Eeli Tolvanen has recorded eight points (4g-4a) in nine career games against Dallas, including his first career three-point game (1g-2a) on March 21, 2021.
• Mikael Granlund has 28 points (9g-19a) in 40 career contests vs. Dallas; he recorded an individual 12-game point streak (3g-14a) against the Stars from Oct. 29, 2016-Feb. 1, 2019.
• Roman Josi owns 33 career points (12g-21a) vs. the Stars, his second-most against a single opponent in his NHL career.

Last Time Out

The Preds swept their season-opening back-to-back against the Sharks in Prague as part of the 2022 NHL Global Series. Nashville has opened the regular season with consecutive wins for the 10th time in franchise history and fifth time in the last eight seasons.

Watch & Listen

Thursday's game will be televised exclusively on ESPN+/Hulu, with Leah Hextall and Ryan Callahan on the call.
Pete Weber and Hal Gill will have the call on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will also be broadcast in Spanish on El Jefe which airs on 96.7 FM, 105.3 FM and 810 AM.