Hintz late goal lifts Stars past Predators

Roope Hintz scored twice, including the game-winning goal with 53 seconds remaining in the third period, and the Dallas Stars defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Tuesday.

Hintz put Dallas in front after a scramble for a loose rebound in front.
"We were trying to get a forecheck in," Hintz said. "Then we get the puck back, and it kind of bounced a little bit. It was bouncing there, and then [Jamie Benn] got me backdoor."

Benn had a goal and an assist, and Jake Oettinger made 31 saves for the Stars (21-9-6), who are 5-1-1 in their past seven games.
Filip Forsberg and Yakov Trenin scored, and Juuse Saros made 25 saves for the Predators (14-14-5).
"I think the urgency is always there," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "The season continues to get shorter and shorter. So, finding ways to rebound, play well and get to your game, and find more consistency in our game is what's going to be the difference [in making the playoffs]."
Benn gave Dallas a 1-0 lead 1:19 into the first period after a turnover by Nashville forward Tommy Novak in his own zone.
"We try to play the whole 60 minutes like we played the first half," Hintz said. "Try to keep playing an offensive game. I think sometimes we try to play too much [defense] and we lose the flow."

Forsberg tied it 1-1 just 56 seconds into the second period off of a rebound of an Alexandre Carrier shot.
"I thought we were a little flat in the first. But I thought we came out better in the second," Predators captain Roman Josi said. "Third period was kind of back and forth, some chances on both sides. We've just got to be better at the end. We gave up a goal that late, it's tough."
Hintz gave Dallas a 2-1 lead at 2:15 when he tipped in a Jason Robertson shot on the power play from the slot.
"I loved our first. I thought we played great coming out of the break, traveling this morning," Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. "I thought we had a great first. I thought in the second we gave the game back a little bit, more with puck decisions than anything. I thought we recovered and reset and got our game back in the third the way we want to play."
Trenin scored short-handed at 8:15 to tie it 2-2.
"I think we've been talking a lot about the offense and then just playing fast. I feel like the last couple of games we've done that," Josi said. "We're getting in our zone more, we're creating some more chances. It's a tough loss, but I think we've got to just keep building our game and move on."

NOTES: It was Benn's 343rd NHL goal, passing Brian Bellows for second on the Stars/Minnesota North Stars all-time list behind Mike Modano (557). ... Predators forward Matt Duchene missed the game after his wife gave birth to a daughter Tuesday morning. ... Stars forward Fredrik Olofsson made his NHL debut. He had four shots on goal in 9:16 of ice time.