Game Day: Stars vs. Preds

After the high of a dramatic victory in their home opener, the Nashville Predators look for win No. 2 this evening when they host the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena.
It's the first Central Division clash of the season for the Preds after starting out against three Eastern Conference opponents. And not that Nashville's first three outings didn't hold plenty of meaning, but when the divisional matchups roll around, success is essential.
"We know Dallas is a great team, so we have to be on our toes and build off the win we had Tuesday," defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. "I thought we played good to start the game yesterday being up 3-0. It's the start we want and the start we're going to look to have tonight]."
**[\[Click here to see the Predators projected lineup for tonight's game\]**

Last Time Out:
The Predators put on a show in their home opener to defeat Philadelphia, 6-5, for their first win of the season. After going up 3-0, the Flyers roared back to score five consecutive times before the Preds scored three in the third period, including two power-play goals in the final two minutes of regulation.
Filip Forsberg and Scott Hartnell tallied two goals apiece while Craig Smith and Nick Bonino each potted their first of the season. Defenseman Samuel Girard recorded an assist in his NHL debut on Tuesday; defenseman Roman Josi and forward Colton Sissons missed the game and are both day-to-day with lower-body injuries.

The Opposition:
The Stars enter tonight's game with an identical 1-2-0 record to the Preds and are coming off a 4-2 win over Detroit on Tuesday. Defenseman John Klingberg leads the team with four points - he, as well as Mattias Janmark and Tyler Seguin have two goals each through three games. Ben Bishop is expected to start in net tonight for the Stars.

All-Time Meetings:
The Predators are 32-38-1-4 all-time against the Stars and have won three of the past four meetings vs. Dallas. Nashville outscored Dallas 17-8 in its three victories in 2016-17. The Preds have won seven of the last 10 home games vs. the Stars, including a four-game winning streak from Dec. 12, 2013 to Jan. 8, 2015.
Viktor Arvidsson has nine points (4g-5a) in 10 career games vs. Dallas, including points in four-straight games. He set his career high in points in a game with four (2g-2a) against the Stars on April 6, 2017. Filip Forsberg has 11 points in 15 career games vs. Dallas.
When You Go:
Tonight's game comes with a 7 p.m. CT puck drop from Bridgestone Arena with doors set to open at 5:30 p.m. All fans attending tonight's game will receive a 2017-18 magnetic schedule, presented by Premier Parking.
The Predators have
made the decision
on their next National Anthem performer, with all four finalists making the cut. Tonight, Katie Ohh will sing the Star-Spangled Banner prior to puck drop.

Take It In:
Tonight's game can be see on Fox Sports Tennessee, beginning with the Predators Live pregame show at 6:30 p.m. CT. Willy Daunic, Chris Mason and Kara Hammer have the call on the television side, while Pete Weber and Hal Gill deliver the action on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network. Plus, follow @PredsNHL on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat for updates from Smashville.