In a dominant display of hockey, the Dallas Stars routed the Nashville Predators with a staggering 9-2 victory. The game, which took place at the Predators' home ground, saw Sam Steel scoring just 35 seconds after the game commenced, setting the tone for the Stars' performance. Dallas maintained their momentum, leading 4-0 by the end of the first period, with Craig Smith and Wyatt Johnston among the scorers. The Predators managed only one shot on goal compared to the Stars' 18 in the first period. Despite Nashville's efforts, they were unable to recover, trailing significantly throughout the game and eventually being down 9-2. This loss ties a franchise record for the Predators for the most goals allowed in a game, matching a previous high set in November 2019 against Colorado. The Predators have now faced a four-goal deficit at the start of a game three times this season, all at home, highlighting a concerning pattern of poor starts.
O'Reilly finishes it with an empty-netter after Krug lost puck at the blue line. 5-2. #stlblues
Juuse Saros is standing on his head here in the latter part of the 3rd. #Preds trying to close this one out.
Sundqvist called for interference. #Preds to the PP
Luke Schenn, 4-1 #Preds
Forsberg with the wrister short side and it's 3-1. #stlblues #preds
Sammy Blais called for interfering with Jeremy Lauzon. #Preds to the PP.
That's a big hit by Blais on Lauzon behind the net but is called for interference at 6:18. #stlblues
Nashville has now stopped 2 of 5 penalty shots faced this season. Juuse Saros with 1 of those stops. #Preds
Nashville has now stopped 2 of 5 penalty shots faced this season. Juuse Saros with 4 of those stops. #Preds
END 2: #Preds 2, Blues 1 Nashville has the lead after 40 minutes of play. Saros with a big penalty shot save as the Predators escape their penalty woes.
After two, #preds lead #stlblues 2-1. Shots are 28-20 in favor of STL.
Evangelista, 2-1 #Preds take the lead on a miscue by Nick Leddy.
Evangelista makes it 2-1 after Scandella whiffs on a puck at the blue line. Two big blunders have led to two #preds goals. #stlblues
Juuse Saros big 2-on-1 save with Fabbro back on defense. #Preds & Blues still tied at 1 with eight minutes to play in the 2nd.
END 1: #Preds 1, Blues 1 Nashville came out with pressure early but was snakebitten by penalties late in the period. Blues lead all scoring chances 13-10.
END 1: #Preds 1, Blues 1 Nashville came out with pressure early but was snakebitten by penalties late in the period. Blues lead all scoring chances 11-9.
After one, #stlblues and #preds tied 1-1. Shots are 12-8 in favor of STL.
Not only do the Blues score on the 5-on-3, but they score with 1 second left in the 1st penalty. Preds still on the PK here...
Kyrou, 1-1 Blues tie it up on the PP. #Preds caught looking there.
Five on three PP for the Blues after Lauzon gets called for high-sticking. #Preds
Colton Sissons gives the Preds a 1-0 lead. His shot ramped off a Blues' stick, but good look for him in the slot. Nashville needed that. https://t.co/nSesu567pd
Juuse Saros & Jordan Binnington lead their teams out for warmups. #Preds
Jordan Binnington and Juuse Saros lead the #stlblues and #preds out for the pregame warmup.
Binnington leads the Blues onto the ice for pre-game warmups. #stlblues
The #Preds get demolished 9-2 against Dallas last night at home. @AdamVingan and I continue to react to the worst home loss in team history now on @1025TheGame https://t.co/RSWdEyDQu4
Sam Steel scored 35 seconds after the puck dropped, and the Dallas Stars scored four goals in the first 16 minutes on the way to a 9-2 rout of the Nashville Predators. https://t.co/QHwmhMegrD
Nashville lost at home to Dallas 9-2. Preds were down 4-0 after first and got outshot 18-1. https://t.co/ltnzC1lmIZ
This is only the 2nd time the Preds have allowed 9 goals in a game. The last time was November 2019 against Colorado.
Nashville is now down 9-2. Ties a franchise record for most GA in a game. The only other time was 11/7/19. #Preds
END 2: Stars 7, #Preds 2 The worst Nashville has done GA & performance-wise all season. Their season-high GA through 40 minutes was 6 coming into tonight's game.
I think the #stlblues spent the entire start to the second in the #oilers zone, Kapanen had two great chances and missed the net, Krug had a couple passes that could have resulted in goals earlier in the shift, including feeding Schenn for a redirect in front, Neighbours rebound. https://t.co/nxiqT1xvmg
END 1: Stars 4, #Preds 0 This is the 3rd time this season (all at home) Nashville has trailed by four to start a game this season. Stars outshooting Preds 18-1.
Krug's shot whiff leads to a Kyrou hooking penalty, and the Oilers capitalize on a Draisaitl power-play goal, 1-1. #stlblues
Nashville had a prime chance to score a gimme & Jankowski just missed. Miro Heiskanen got his stick on it just in the knick of time. #Preds down 4-0
So the Krug flub comes back to bite the #stlblues. A Bouchard shot is blocked, bounce right back to him, feeds Draisaitl to the open spot from the bottom of the right circle. #stlblues https://t.co/AIQO8eL3Vw
Wyatt Johnston, 4-0 Stars #Preds are down awful tonight.
Krug fans on a pass that turns into a 2 on 1 SH chance for #oilers and Kyrou nabbed for hooking at 12:33. #stlblues
It took the #Preds 13:49 before they registered their first shot of the game & oh yeah they're down 2-0. Lots of cheers from the crowd as Luke Schenn fired one on net.
Stars up 3-0. Craig Smith scores. And the Preds still do not have a shot on goal.
Exactly 10 minutes into the game, the Preds do not have a shot on goal, while the Stars lead 2-0 with 12 shots.
#Preds are down 2-0 and are being out-shot 9-0.
This is a truly abysmal start for the #Preds. Can't complete a pass. Can't get the puck out of their own end. Down 2-0 already.
Sam Steel gives the Stars a 1-0 lead 35 seconds into the game. Went through the legs of Luke Schenn and Saros didn't get his glove on it.........not great.