Saros helps Predators defeat Stars in shootout after Rinne honored

NASHVILLE -- Juuse Saros made 27 saves and did not allow a goal in the shootout to help the Nashville Predators defeat the Dallas Stars 2-1 at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

Mikael Granlund scored in the fourth round for the Predators (30-18-4), who have won two in a row after losing four straight.
The
Predators retired the No. 35
of former goalie Pekka Rinne in a pregame ceremony, the first retired number in their history. Rinne played 15 seasons for Nashville and holds most of its major goalie records.
"It's been a special day obviously for [Rinne], and we all love him so much," Granlund said. "It was a special day for all of us and especially for [Rinne] and his family. But we were able to get those two points and that's all that matters. I'm just happy for tonight and I'm really happy for [Rinne]."

Jake Oettinger made 19 saves for the Stars (28-20-3), who had won six of their prior seven road games. Dallas did not score on four power plays, including a 4-on-3 in overtime.
"It's a good point," Dallas coach Rick Bowness said. "We deserved two. We outplayed them. Their goalie was the difference in the game. I thought we played our hearts out tonight. I was very happy with everything.
"The power play could have won us the game clearly, but our penalty killers were great tonight (5-for-5). Five-on-5 we were very good. We didn't give them any opportunities."
Philip Tomasino gave Nashville a 1-0 lead at 11:56 of the first period. The rookie skated into the Dallas zone, cut toward the slot and scored with a wrist shot.
"[Colton Sissons] drove the net there in the middle and kind of took that [defenseman] with him," Tomasino said. "I don't think without him doing that play, I don't think that goal happens.
"It worked out. It was kind of a flutterball shot a little bit, but I think I placed it pretty well. It was definitely a nice goal for me, and I think it was a nice goal for our team to get started."

Jason Robertson tied it 1-1 at 1:21 of the second period with his third goal in three games against the Predators this season. Joe Pavelski set him up from behind the goal line, and Robertson scored from the left face-off circle.
Dallas has scored six goals in its past four games and has been held to one goal three times.
"I think if you keep competing and you keep going to those hard areas, they're going to come," Stars defenseman Ryan Suter said. "[Roope Hintz] probably had three good looks in the first period. We're getting chances and we're getting some looks, so stay with it. It will come. It's hard to score this time of the year because everyone is bearing down."
The crowd of 17,869 was a Bridgestone Arena record for a Predators game. Nashville plays the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET; SN360, TVAS2).
"You have to play your best in high-stakes games," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "Whether they are hyped-up games, or highly competitive games, or rivalry games, nationally televised games, whatever it is. If you are going to be a team that's going to be able to do anything, you have to play your best when the stakes are the highest and the stage is high."
NOTES:Predators defenseman Alexandre Carrier sustained an undisclosed injury in the second period. There was no update. … Predators defenseman Roman Josi had his six-game point streak end (10 points; one goal, nine assists). He has scored 499 NHL points. … Stars forward Riley Tufte played 5:49 in his first game since Dec. 20 after being recalled from Texas of the American Hockey League on Thursday. … Dallas planned to fly to Nashville on Wednesday night following a 3-2 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets, but inclement weather changed the plans. Dallas arrived at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.