Saros Steals One as Predators Edge Stars 2-1
Stamkos and Hoglander cash in while Heiskanen drives Dallas’s push but can’t beat Nashville’s netminder late.
Dallas carried more of the puck and chances, but Nashville rode Juuse Saros and timely finishing to a 2-1 win. The Stars generated the better looks overall — their expected goals tilted their way (3.02 to 2.45), and they outshot Nashville 30-26 — yet Saros turned it into a goalie win with a night that beat the math (goals saved above expected +2.02).
For the Predators, Steven Stamkos drove danger with four shots and a goal, and Nils Hoglander buried his chance in limited minutes. Ryan O’Reilly and Roman Josi each chipped in an assist to steady the game state. On the Dallas side, Miro Heiskanen was their engine — a goal and a team-high five shots — while Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen helped create the lone breakthrough. There were no friendly pipes either; no posts or crossbars to change the story.
Takeaway: Nashville learned Saros can keep them in any game while the offense finds traction. Dallas had the edge in chances; next up, they need more finish.