NASHVILLE – In a dramatic turn of events, the Dallas Stars scored two goals in the final 15 seconds to snatch a 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday. Craig Smith’s equalizer and Jani Hakanpää’s winner capped off an incredible comeback for the Stars.
Smith, who scored his first point in 16 games against his former team, tied the game at 2-2 with a rebound goal. “We stayed hungry and got a nice bounce out front,” Smith said. Hakanpää then delivered the decisive blow with a shot from the point that found its way past Predators goalie Juuse Saros.
Evgenii Dadonov also scored for the Stars (20-8-4), and goalie Scott Wedgewood made 19 saves. The victory extended Dallas’ point streak to six games (5-0-1). “We were the better team in the third period,” said Dallas forward Matt Duchene. “We turned the game and got the bounces we needed.”
The Predators (19-15-0), who have lost two of their last three games, received goals from Michael McCarron and Colton Sissons, with Saros making 31 saves. Despite their strong start, Nashville could not hold off the late surge from Dallas.
Predators coach Andrew Brunette expressed disappointment with the team’s performance. “We had too many passengers tonight, which was disappointing,” Brunette said.
McCarron opened the scoring early in the second period, and Sissons’ power-play goal increased Nashville’s lead. “We tried to maintain pressure, but Dallas pushed back aggressively,” Sissons said.
Dadonov’s third-period goal sparked Dallas’ comeback, setting the stage for the dramatic final minutes. Stars coach Peter DeBoer commended his team’s resilience. “We reset in the third and gave ourselves a chance,” DeBoer said.
Duchene, playing against the Predators for the first time since his contract buyout, reflected on his return to Nashville. “It still feels like home. It was great to experience this and even better to get a win,” he said.
Notably, this was Dallas’ fifth multigoal comeback win of the season, the most in the NHL. Meanwhile, the Predators’ Cole Smith saw his five-game point streak end.
For the Stars, this win signifies their ability to overcome adversity and maintain their winning momentum. The Predators, facing a tough loss, will aim to regroup and build on their early-game strengths in upcoming matches.
