The Nashville Predators (27-40-8, 62 points) look to avoid a fifth straight loss as they wrap up a three-game road trip with a visit to the Dallas Stars (49-21-4, 102 points) Thursday at American Airlines Center.
The season series between Nashville and Dallas is split at 1-1, with the Stars earning a 4-3 Opening Night win over the Predators at Bridgestone Arena, and Nashville getting a 4-1 victory Dec. 12 in Dallas.
The Stars are chasing the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the Central Division, while the Predators are firmly in 30th place in the NHL and in the mix for a lottery pick in the upcoming NHL Draft.
Justus Annunen, who played the third period of the Predators' 8-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday after Juuse Saros was pulled from the game, will get the start in goal for Nashville against Dallas. Jake Oettinger will get the nod for the Stars.
How the Predators Lined Up vs. Dallas
Bunting-O'Reilly-Evangelista
Forsberg-Stamkos-L'Heureux
Smith-McCarron-Vrana
Bellows-Svechkov-Wiesblatt
Skjei-Blankenburg
Del Gaizo-Barron
Englund-Oesterle
Annunen
Saros
Extra: Stastney (day-to-day, upper-body), Marchessault (day-to-day, lower-body), Sissons (week-to-week, lower-body), Wood
IR: Lauzon, Josi, Wilsby
The Predators announced prior to Thursday's game that defenseman Spencer Stastney would be out of the lineup and is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Forwards Colton Sissons and Marchessault, who missed each of the previous two games with lower-body injuries, will also miss Thursday's contest against Dallas.
Forward Ozzy Wiesblatt, whom the Predators recalled from the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals Thursday morning, slots in on the fourth line with Kieffer Bellows and Fedor Svechkov. Wiesblatt adds depth to the Predators' injury-depleted forward group after Nashville was forced to ice 11 forwards and seven defensemen in each of their last two games.
Forward Matthew Wood, the Predators' 2023 first-round draft pick who signed his three-year, entry-level contract on Saturday, has joined the team in Dallas but has yet to make his NHL debut with the team.
Predators at Stars: Live Updates
First Period (NSH 0, DAL 0)
After the first 20 minutes, Nashville is outshooting Dallas, 17-5. Both goaltenders have been tremendous and kept the game scoreless after the first period.
Second Period (NSH 1, DAL 0)
The Predators finally scored on their 18th shot, and what a shot it was. Steven Stamkos scored in transition, taking a no-look wrist shot from the bottom of the right circle that beat Oettinger five-hole to give Nashville a 1-0 lead at the 4:37 mark of the second period.
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