Predators rally for shootout win against Stars

Eeli Tolvanen scored the tying goal in the third period, and the Nashville Predators rallied for a 4-3 shootout win against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday.

The rookie forward had two assists for his first three-point game in the NHL.
"Personally, I didn't even know I had three points," Tolvanen said. "But of course it feels good. I think our line was really good today. We all three scored a goal, so I think that's a good sign. I mean, playing with those guys, you get more pucks and you get goals and some points. I think that's going to continue to grow my confidence. My confidence is really high right now."

Pekka Rinne made 27 saves for the Predators (14-17-1), who have won three of their past four games and went 4-3-1 on an eight-game road trip, the longest in their history.
"I'm ready to get in bed," Nashville forward Ryan Johansen said. "I'm exhausted. But you know, we found a way to win some games and get some points on this trip against some great hockey clubs. Overall, we're happy with this trip, especially with all of our guys out of the lineup, as everyone knows. Looking forward to getting back home and getting in bed."
The Stars (10-10-8) have lost three of four (1-1-2).
Dallas forward Radek Faksa left the game after blocking a shot in the second period, and forward Joel Kiviranta left after one shift in the third period because of a lower-body injury.
"I think we battled hard, but obviously that hurts," Stars forward Ty Dellandrea said. "Going pretty well three lines wears you down, but we had the same schedule as they did and both are tough. It's not an excuse at all, but it definitely hurt."
Each team was playing the second of back-to-back games. The Predators lost 2-0 at the Florida Panthers on Saturday, when the Stars won 3-0 at the Detroit Red Wings.
Calle Jarnkrok scored the deciding goal in the fifth round of the shootout. Johansen scored in the bottom of the second round, and Dallas' Joe Pavelski scored in the top of the third.
Tolvanen tied the game 3-3 at 14:15 of the third period on a shot through traffic from above the right face-off circle.

Filip Forsberg scored to get the Predators within 3-2 at 17:54 of the second period when Johansen's pass went in off his skate. The goal was upheld by video review.
Rhett Gardner scored his first NHL goal to give the Stars a 1-0 lead at 9:02 of the first period. Esa Lindell's shot on the rush was blocked, and the puck caromed off the end wall to Gardner at the bottom of the left circle.
"I figured it would probably be not the prettiest of goals," Gardner said. "I just kind of played through the neutral zone. [Lindell] was coming up the middle, so I just tried to fill the wide lane and kind of anticipated that the puck would take a bounce off the end wall there. It just popped right to me. I fanned on it a little, and it snuck in five-hole."
Faksa gave the Stars a 2-0 lead at 10:21 on a redirection of a shot by Jason Robertson.
Johansen scored on the power play to make it 2-1 at 10:51 of the first when he redirected a shot from the point by Mattias Ekholm.
"This was kind of a make-or-break trip for us," Johansen said. "We had to find a way to get points and win some games, and we did that. We're in a position with 24 games left where if we can keep taking strides forward, we'll put ourselves in a good position at the end of this season."
Dellandrea gave Dallas a 3-1 lead at 13:02 of the second period on a double redirection after Joe Pavelski tipped John Klingberg's shot.
NOTES:It was Johansen's first multipoint game of the season. … Predators forward Mikael Granlund missed the game because of an upper-body injury and is day to day. … Stars forward Andrew Cogliano returned to the lineup after missing two games because of illness. He was minus-1 with one shot on goal in 15:29. … Dallas forward Alexander Radulov missed a second consecutive game because of a lower-body injury. ... Anton Khudobin made 19 saves for the Stars.