• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metropolitan Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle NHL
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • THW Archives
  • More…
    • Columns
    • NWHL
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • Long Read
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metropolitan Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle NHL
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • THW Archives
  • More…
    • Columns
    • NWHL
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • Long Read
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Dallas Stars

Stars vs Predators: A Rivalry in the Making

By The Canadian Press April 10th, 2019

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

NASHVILLE — The NHL could not have planned this any better.

The Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars are due to meet in the next Winter Classic but first the two Central Division foes have a chance to build up their rivalry starting Wednesday night in the first post-season series between them.

“It’s probably really good promotion for NBC for next year to get this rivalry going,” Predators general manager David Poile said.

Nashville won the season series 3-2, and Stars forward Tyler Seguin said the games have been low-scoring battles.

Mattias Ekholm, Brett Ritchie
The Predators and Stars will face each other in the 2020 Winter Classic. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

“If there’s not a rivalry there, there’s going to be,” Seguin said. “And I’m sure NBC’s real excited with the gods putting us all in the hands of Winter Classic next year. I guess you can call it fate for us. It’s going to be a good series.”

The Stars missed the post-season the past two years before earning the Western Conference’s first wild card while the Predators are making their fifth straight appearance. Much of the roster remains from Nashville’s first Stanley Cup Final team. The Predators won their first Presidents’ Trophy a year ago only to lose in the second round to Winnipeg in seven games.

Now they have their second straight division title thanks to an 8-2-1 finish, and are hoping all that experience pays off in another trip to the finals.

“Absolutely the best time of the year,” Predators goalie Pekka Rinne said.

Stars’ Bishop or Khudobin?

First-year Stars coach Jim Montgomery has an interesting decision to make in net between Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin.

Bishop, plagued by lower-body injuries that sidelined the Dallas starter several times during the regular season, led the NHL in save percentage (.934) and was second in goals-against average (1.98). But Khudobin set a franchise record for saves in a shutout with 49 in a 2-0 win at Nashville in December and stopped 38 of 39 shots there five weeks later. He wasn’t quite as good in the third game at Nashville, stopping 21 of 24 in a 3-2 overtime loss five days after that second win.

  • Dallas Stars goalie Ben Bishop
    Ben Bishop (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
  • Tom Wilson, Anton Khudobin
    Anton Khudobin (AP Photo/LM Otero)

“I didn’t say it was going to be split,” Montgomery said when asked about the hot-hand approach. “I said I imagine both playing.”

Reigning Vezina Winner

Rinne didn’t match the season he had a year ago in winning his first Vezina Trophy, but he just posted his fifth straight season with at least 30 wins to tie for the longest active streak in the NHL. Rinne went 3-0-0 last week with a 2.01 GAA and .935 save percentage. Backup Juuse Saros won both his starts against Dallas, giving Nashville a strong option if needed.

Buffalo Sabres Evan Rodrigues Nashville Predators Pekka Rinne
Pekka Rinne will be the Predators’ starter. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

“Pekka has had a terrific season and certainly he’s played very strong down the stretch for us,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said.

Stars’ Newbies

While Jamie Benn and fellow high-priced forward Seguin bring plenty of experience (Seguin won the Stanley Cup as a 19-year-old with Boston in 2011), the Stars have some key playoff newcomers in 19-year-old standout Miro Heiskanen, fellow defenceman Esa Lindell and emerging forward Roope Hintz. Lindell is 24, Hintz 22. Montgomery isn’t concerned.

“I like our 19-year-old not having any Stanley Cup playoffs,” Montgomery said. “He’s going to be OK in the playoffs.”

Stars vs. Predators: Special Teams

The Stars could have a decided advantage over Nashville when it comes to the power play. Dallas ranked 11th converting 21% with the man advantage to go along with a penalty kill that’s fifth-stingiest. Nashville is just behind Dallas when it comes to killing penalties, but the Predators were last in the league on the power play at 12.9%. They scored only one power play in the season series with Dallas — when the Stars had pulled their goalie in the final minute of the teams’ first game.

Dallas Stars Nashville Predators

Nashville traded for Brian Boyle, Wayne Simmonds and Mikael Granlund in February in part for their power-play prowess. Nashville’s game-winning goal that clinched the division title came on a power play.

Predators Have the Edge at Home

Both Nashville and Dallas are among the league’s best on home ice with the Predators ninth-best at 25-14-2 and the Stars at 12th after going 24-14-3. Seguin said Nashville easily ranks among the top three home rinks, though he puts Vegas as the loudest in the regular season. Laviolette said he doesn’t have a crystal ball to see how home ice will treat teams.

“Given the choice to play at home or on the road, I’d rather play in front of our fans and play in our building,” Laviolette said.

___

AP Sports Writer Schuyler Dixon contributed to this report.

___

Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

___

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Teresa M. Walker, The Associated Press

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Facebook Comments

Editor’s Picks
Martin St. Louis, the Little Big Man

Martin St. Louis, the Little Big Man

9361
'Mr. Hockey' Gordie Howe

'Mr. Hockey' Gordie Howe

9825
Recent Posts
Dec 11th 12:59 AM
Chicago Blackhawks

Fleury Returns, Leads Vegas to 5-1 Win over Blackhawks

Dec 11th 12:35 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Tavares Scores Twice, Andersen Comes up Big in Third as Leafs Beat Canucks

Dec 10th 11:59 PM
Arizona Coyotes

Flames’ Win Streak at 6 Games with 5-2 Win over Coyotes

Dec 10th 11:47 PM
Carolina Hurricanes

Sebastian Aho Scores Twice, Hurricanes Beat Oilers 6-3

Dec 10th 11:45 PM
Detroit Red Wings

Blake Wheeler Sparks Offence, Jets Hand Red Wings 12th Straight Loss

Dec 10th 11:35 PM
Florida Panthers

Stamkos, Vasilevskiy Lead Lightning to 2-1 Win over Panthers

Dec 10th 11:31 PM
Dallas Stars

Stars Win Bowness’ 1st Game as Coach, Shut out Devils 2-0

Dec 10th 11:26 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Top Wild 3-2 in Shootout

Dec 10th 11:25 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Eichel Scores Twice, Sabres Top Blues 5-2

Dec 10th 11:15 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens End Jarry’s Shutout Streak, Race past Penguins 4-1

Stay in Touch
Contact Us

Via our Newsletters
RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Our Partners
HFBoards

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

Join over 18 000 Subscribers of our free bi-weekly Newsletter.

© The Hockey Writers 2018. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • Atlantic Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Metropolitan Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Dallas Stars
    • Minnesota Wild
    • Nashville Predators
    • St Louis Blues
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • Pacific Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle NHL
    • Vegas Golden Knights
    • Vancouver Canucks
  • Store
  • The THW Archives
  • Prospects
  • The Goalie Page
  • NHL Salary Cap Information
  • Join Our Team
  • Search THW