Nashville @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 15, 2019 ) Nashville 3, Dallas 2

The Dallas Stars feel they have deserved a better fate through the first three games of their Western Conference first-round series, but the immediate goal is figuring out a way to earn a victory at home against the Nashville Predators. The Stars will look to level the series when they host the Central Division champions in Game 4 on Wednesday night.

After stealing home-ice advantage with a 3-2 victory at Nashville in the series opener, the Stars gave it right back with Monday's 3-2 setback to remain winless in three home games against the Predators this season. "It's 2-1, I think we've been the better team two out of three games," coach Jim Montgomery said after his club unleashed 42 shots on goal in Game 3. "Keep playing like that, usually hockey gods get back on your side." Nashville was relieved to have its first lead of the series after watching Dallas erase a two-goal deficit, but the team realizes there is a long way to go. "It's a huge win for us after going down in Game 1, but I don't want to talk about momentum or anything like that because it's such a dangerous thing," netminder Pekka Rinne said. "You lose that grip right away when you start thinking about it, so I think we have to prepare for Game 4 like it's Game 1 or Game 7."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, USA, Sportsnet, TVAS2, FS Tennessee (Nashville) FS Southwest

ABOUT THE PREDATORS: It wasn't just the sheer volume of saves made by Rinne that was the decisive factor in Game 3 -- he registered five of his 40 saves with Dallas on a 5-on-3 power play and kept the score tied by denying captain Jamie Benn point-blank in the third period. "Every once in while he makes one like that you roll your eyes and say, 'How did he do that?'" Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban said. "He's been doing that for a long time." Rocco Grimaldi has scored in back-to-back games after replacing forward Brian Boyle, who is week-to-week following an appendectomy.

ABOUT THE STARS: Rinne's counterpart, Ben Bishop, had not surrendered more than two goals since Feb. 4 but that streak halted in painful fashion when Mikael Granlund's seemingly harmless shot from just inside the blue line got past him for the game-winner. "You just got to put it behind you and go out and play our game," Bishop said. "Some nights, there are unfortunate bounces. Some nights, you're lucky. It doesn't change anything. It's the same routine, night in and night out." Despite an abundance of chances, Dallas is 1-for-13 on the power play in the series.

OVERTIME

1. Stars F Tyler Seguin scored the tying goal Monday and recorded a staggering 11 shots on net.

2. Predators F Wayne Simmonds also is week-to-week after taking a puck off the knee in Game 2.

3. Stars F Mats Zuccarello, who played in only two games since he was acquired via trade, has scored twice in the series.

PREDICTION: Stars 3, Predators 2