Preds Unhappy With Effort in Loss to Stars

Mike Fisher scored another power-play goal for the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night, but that was the only time they found the back of the net against the Dallas Stars, falling 2-1 at Bridgestone Arena.
It's Nashville's second loss in a row on the young season, and a slow start against the Central Division foe tonight made it tough for the Preds to get much going throughout the contest.
"They came out strong in the first - we didn't," Fisher said. "I didn't feel like we got our legs going at all. It just wasn't a good game for us. They won most of the battles. They looked quicker. We have to be a lot better for sure."

After a scoreless first, Dallas broke the tie when Johnny Oduya's point shot hit the sticks of Curtis McKenzie and Adam Cracknell before finding its way past Pekka Rinne, but less than two minutes later, the Nashville power play converted.

Fisher took a Filip Forsberg feed all alone in front and slid the puck under the pillows of Kari Lehtonen for his second of the season and Nashville's fifth power-play goal in three games.
Jason Spezza scored what proved to be the game winner at 9:15 of the third period, and the Preds were unable to capitalize with a late push to even things up.
The game's first star, Rinne turned aside 35 Dallas shots, keeping his team in it until the final horn.
"It could've been over after the first," Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. "[Rinne] was outstanding."

"Obviously, they're really important games," Center Ryan Johansen said. "They're against divisional opponents; those are must win ones. We couldn't find a way tonight. Peks gave us a great chance to win. He was the reason why we were in the game."
There were more questions than answers for the Preds in the third game of 2016-17, but if anything, there's some clarity as to what didn't work, with two days to correct it before skating in Detroit on Friday night.
"I didn't feel like we worked hard enough tonight," Fisher said. "We just weren't making smart plays. Helping ourselves and supporting each other, making it easier on our linemates, we just didn't have any of that tonight.
"We have to be better and find ways to create and bury. I don't feel like we're in sync right now. Definitely one of those things we have to find ways to be better."

Notes:
Cody Bass played his first game of the season, skating 6:30 of ice time and recording two hits. Bass replaced Miikka Salomaki, who will be out 6-8 weeks with an upper-body injury.
Nashville travels to Detroit to face the Red Wings on Friday night in what will be their final game at Joe Louis Arena. The Preds then return home one night later to host Pittsburgh on Saturday.