NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Stars are going to look back at Tuesday’s 2-1 loss in Nashville with regret. Disappointment, sure. Frustration, sure.
But the primary feeling leaving Bridgestone Arena will be regret.
Dallas blew a third-period lead by allowing two goals in the final seven minutes, turning what could have been a statement win to end a perfect road trip into another case of wondering what could have been.
Predators defenseman Roman Josi scored the game-winning goal with 1:22 left in the third period, blasting a slap shot from the blue line through a Filip Forsberg screen at the net-front.
“We let one slip,” Stars forward Joe Pavelski said. “Disappointed, like to have it back. Where we are, we can’t dwell on it too long. We’ve got to learn and handle it better next time.”
Ryan Johansen tied the game for Nashville with 6:52 left in the third period, streaking through the slot to beat Jake Oettinger. Johansen’s goal came moments after Juuse Saros denied Michael Raffl on a breakaway attempt.
John Klingberg gave the Stars a 1-0 lead just 32 seconds into the third period, as his deflected point shot navigated its way through traffic at the net-front. It was Klingberg’s second goal of the season, and first one at 5 on 5. His only other goal this season came in overtime.
Josi’s goal not only gave the Predators a late lead, but did so in regulation, meaning the Stars walked away from Nashville with nothing. Had they held on for another 82 seconds, Dallas would have secured at least one point.
Instead, the Stars head back to Dallas in fifth place in the Central Division, three points up on Edmonton for the final Wild Card in the Western Conference. The Stars (67 points in 56 games) are in a tight group in the Central that includes St. Louis (71 points in 56 games), Minnesota (69 points in 55 games) and Nashville (68 points in 56 games).
“It’s a tough way to lose, obviously,” Klingberg said. “It was a grinding game, it always is when we play these guys. They were able to find a way there to come out with two points.”
For the most part, offense was hard to come by on Tuesday night.
Outside of the first period, the Stars largely kept the Predators to the outside despite 14 shots in the second period. Oettinger made 10 saves in the first period to steady the Stars and finished with 29 saves. Saros countered with 22 saves.
Johansen broke through when Pavelski and Jani Hakanpää both went to Alexandre Carrier, opening a lane for Johansen to waltz down the slot.
“The 4-on-4, I get caught duplicating,” Pavelski said. “It’s a 50-50 play and we get caught going to the same guy. It works out there for a runway. You’d like to have that one back.”
Josi’s goal came after a two-man game with himself and Dante Fabbro freed enough space for a point shot that appeared to deflect off of either Hakanpää or Forsberg at the net.
“You give up a point shot from the blue line, the coverage is OK,” Stars coach Rick Bowness said. “It just finds its way in.”
Tuesday’s loss joins a group of Stars losses that have left points on the table.
In Vegas in December, the Stars folded in the third period with a chance to set the franchise record for longest win streak. Dallas collapsed in the final minute of a referee-aided January loss in St. Louis. Before the All-Star break, the Stars blew a 3-1 lead in the third period against Calgary to lose in regulation.
Each of those games are missed opportunities in the standings, which have tightened this month with Dallas’ surge and slips from Nashville, Minnesota and St. Louis. If the Stars would have even gone 2-2-0 in those games instead of 0-4-0, they would be in second place in the Central.
Instead, they’ll have to settle for fifth, despite winning two of three games during the road trip.
“We keep losing one-goal games to these guys, it’s disappointing,” Bowness said. “We battle and we’ve just got to find a way to get that second goal.”
No Heiskanen: Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen returned to the ice on Tuesday morning in Nashville but remained out against the Predators.
Heiskanen missed his third straight game with a non-COVID-related illness, having already missed Stars wins in Winnipeg and Minnesota earlier this road trip. Bowness said Heiskanen will play Saturday when the Stars host the Rangers.
“Good to see him back on the ice,” Stars coach Rick Bowness said. “He’s still weak, pale. But he’s back on the ice, so he’ll play Saturday.”
Tuesday’s morning skate was the first time since Wednesday’s win over the Kings that Heiskanen was on the ice with his teammates.
Without Heiskanen, the Stars have leaned heavily on defenseman Jani Hakanpää. During Sunday’s win over Minnesota, Hakanpää played a game-high 28:35, which was also a career high for the 29-year-old Finn.
Hakanpää has slid in alongside Ryan Suter at even-strength, and remains a big part of the Stars’ penalty kill.
Esa Lindell has joined the top power play unit in Heiskanen’s absence.
