DALLAS — Roman Josi scored two goals, including the game-winner in the third period for the Nashville Predators in a 5-3 victory against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on Tuesday.
Josi scored 4-on-4 from the slot to give the Predators a 4-3 lead at 7:35, and scored into an empty net at 19:29 for the 5-3 final. He also had an assist.
The go-ahead goal struck the stick of Stars defenseman Esa Lindell and sailed over Anton Khudobin‘s glove.
[WATCH: All Predators vs. Stars highlights]
“It was a lucky bounce off my stick and maybe someone else, too,” Lindell said. “That’s what happens when you shoot the puck and put it on the net.”
Brian Boyle, Rocco Grimaldi and Filip Forsberg also scored for the Predators (35-22-5), who are in second place in the Central Division, one point behind the Winnipeg Jets. Ryan Ellis had three assists, and Pekka Rinne made 36 saves.
Lindell and Jason Spezza each had a goal and an assist for the Stars (29-25-5), who are 1-4-1 in their past six games. They hold the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference and are six points behind the St. Louis Blues for third place in the Central Division. Khudobin made 42 saves.
The Predators win followed a 5-1 loss at the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
“I think we just had more speed, more attitude, worked harder,” Josi said. “We weren’t happy with the way we played in Vegas. Kind of had two days here to sit on it.”
Predators coach Peter Laviolette said, “We played a desperate team that played with a lot of edge and a lot of attitude tonight. They were fighting for their lives. Like us, they’ve been losing some games and they’ve had some games not go their way and that makes them on point trying to grab the two points. I was really happy with the response from the last game and the fact that we were able to come back from that game and put it away.”
Boyle gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 10:50 of the first period on a backhand tip-in after a skate save on a shot by Josi.
Video: NSH@DAL: Boyle cleans up rebound in front
It was Boyle’s 15th goal and second in seven games for Nashville after being acquired from the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 6. The goal came shortly after Boyle sent Tyler Seguin into the end boards at the opposite end.
“He’s a 200-foot player; he skated 200 feet, scored the goal,” Forsberg said. “Every game he’s getting better and better and getting more comfortable in our system.”
It was the first first-period goal for the Predators since Feb. 7.
The Stars tied it 1-1 at 3:31 of the second period when Spezza scored his seventh goal of the season, and first in 20 games, on a wrist shot from the slot. That ended a scoreless streak of 145:43 for the Stars, who were shut out in their previous two games.
Video: NSH@DAL: Spezza beats Rinne on blocker side
Grimaldi deked Khudobin after getting past Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanan and scored at 10:57 to give Nashville a 2-1 lead. It was Grimaldi’s fifth of the season and first in 11 games.
Lindell scored his ninth goal of the season and second in four games on a wrist shot from just beyond the left circle on the power play to pull the Stars even at 2-2 at 17:29.
Seguin gave Dallas its first lead at 3-2 26 seconds later with his team-high 25th goal, converting a cross-ice pass from Roope Hintz along the goal line at 17:55.
Twenty-one seconds later, Forsberg scored his 21st of the season on a backhand while falling in the crease to tie it 3-3 at 18:16.
Video: NSH@DAL: Forsberg stuffs in rebound to tie game
“It was a huge goal, especially going into intermission there on a tie,” Forsberg said. “Obviously two quick ones by them, but at the same time we kind of killed their flow and their momentum by getting that one.”
Forsberg nearly scored in the second period on a lacrosse-type shot, attempting to stuff the puck into the top corner after skating around the back of the net. He said he occasionally works on that shot in practice.
“Just trying to have fun,” he said with a smile.
They said it
“It’s not going to be pretty down the stretch. We weren’t scoring highlight-reel goals out there.” — Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis
“We’re getting away from what our identity is. We’re a little too loose in our own end.” — Stars coach Jim Montgomery
Need to know
Josi has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his past eight games. … Nashville forward Craig Smith was a late scratch, missing his first game of the season with a lower-body injury. … Seguin has 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in his past nine games.
What’s next
Predators: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHL.TV)
Stars: Host the St. Louis Blues on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET; FS-SW, FS-MW, NHL.TV)
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