Predators handle Stars with 4-1 victory
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Nashville Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night.
Nick Spaling, Shea Weber, and Mike Fisher also scored for Nashville, which has won three of four.
Cody Eakin scored for Dallas, losers of nine of 10.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}With Dallas on a power play, Eakin scored the game's first goal at 4:45 of the opening period with a slap shot from the lower part of the right faceoff circle.
It was the only shot to get by Nashville goaltender Carter Hutton, who made 35 saves in the game. He has won his past three starts.
Former Predator Rich Peverley assisted on the goal, his second in as many games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The power play came as a result of a David Legwand goaltender interference penalty that negated an apparent goal off the stick of Weber at 3:06. Legwand's stick appeared to get under the right skate of Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen.
Spaling got Nashville on the board at 11:35 of the first when he picked up the rebound of Josi's shot from the left circle and beat Lehtonen for his eighth goal of the season.
Weber put Nashville ahead 2-1 at 17:16 of the first with a wrist shot from the high slot through traffic that beat Lehtonen high to the stick side.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}On Sunday, Weber was selected as one of Team Canada's two alternate captains for the Winter Olympics.
With less than a minute remaining in the second, Josi corralled a loose puck in the lower part of the left circle and beat Lehtonen on the stick side for his sixth goal of the season.
The Swiss Olympian has established new career highs in goals (six), assists (14), and points (20).
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}At 3:46 of the third, Colin Wilson carried the puck along the left side before sending a behind the back pass to Fisher, who beat Lehtonen for his 13th of the season.
Former Star Eric Nystrom had two assists in the game for Nashville, his first multi-point game as a Predator.
NOTES: Nashville is 5-20-3 when its opponent scores first. ... Josi has assists in four consecutive games. ... Dallas has scored a power-play goal in its past four games. ... Stars RW Valeri Nichushkin was a healthy scratch for the second straight game.