Stars come into matchup against the Predators on losing streak
Associated Press
Dallas Stars (50-25-6, in the Central Division) vs. Nashville Predators (29-44-8, in the Central Division)
Nashville, Tennessee; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Stars look to break a six-game skid with a win against the Nashville Predators.
Nashville has an 11-12-2 record in Central Division play and a 29-44-8 record overall. The Predators have a -66 scoring differential, with 207 total goals scored and 273 allowed.
Dallas has gone 50-25-6 overall with a 15-7-3 record against the Central Division. The Stars have a 22-10-3 record in games their opponents commit more penalties.
The teams meet Wednesday for the fourth time this season. The Stars won 5-1 in the last matchup.
TOP PERFORMERS: Filip Forsberg has 31 goals and 43 assists for the Predators. Steven Stamkos has four goals and three assists over the past 10 games.
Matt Duchene has 30 goals and 51 assists for the Stars. Mikko Rantanen has three goals and nine assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Predators: 2-8-0, averaging 2.6 goals, 4.5 assists, 3.4 penalties and 7.9 penalty minutes while giving up 4.1 goals per game.
Stars: 4-4-2, averaging 3.5 goals, 6.3 assists, 3.6 penalties and 8.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game.
INJURIES: Predators: None listed.
Stars: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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Each contributed in small ways despite, aside from Zatkoff and a few others in the 1920s and 1930s, not actually playing in the postseason. Some — including Knight, Wedgewood and Husso — couldn't even fall back on the validation of appearing in a regular-season game during the championship season. Do they truly feel like champions? 'I picture the ocean: You can be above the water for some categories and under the water for others,' Wedgewood said. 'That's kind of how it feels at certain times.' Annunen, who was traded to Nashville by Colorado, ironically for Wedgewood, said it felt amazing to lift the Stanley Cup. He later received a championship ring, presented at a private dinner for Avalanche players, and Colorado played him a 'welcome back' video on the jumbotron when he returned to Denver as a member of the Predators, ending with a picture of him holding the Stanley Cup. Reflecting on the experience, he thinks of his 2022 teammates, such as longtime veterans Jack Johnson and Erik Johnson, and can't imagine how they must have felt hoisting the trophy for the first time. 'You feel like you are part of the group, but it's a little different,' he said. 'I don't know how to explain it. Of course, if I would have been around more or played more it would feel even (more) different, for sure.' Last summer, Knight got a customary day with the Stanley Cup, but his name wasn't engraved on the outer ring with the other Panthers. Including Quick, four Vegas goalies — the three who dressed in the playoffs, plus Logan Thompson, who led the team in regular-season starts before injury derailed his season — got their names on the Cup in 2023. But Annunen and Christopher Gibson, the Lightning's No. 3 in 2021, did not. Neither did Wedgewood, though he remembers Alex Killorn and some teammates messaging the group text that his name deserved to make the cut. The gesture touched the goalie, who still got to participate in the parade and received a ring and a miniature Cup trophy. Advertisement Perhaps aided by how much time he spent with the Lightning in the bubbles, Wedgewood still views himself as part of the team. He never dressed for a game in the 2020 playoffs, save for an exhibition against the Panthers before the round robin to determine seeding, and spent most of the regular season in the AHL, never appearing in a game for the Lightning. But he compares lifting the Cup to hitting a hole-in-one in golf: The way the ball goes in, whether off a perfect shot or off a ricochet off a tree, doesn't really matter. Still, he knows his role wasn't the exact same as those who actually played. 'Does the reunion come up in 10 years? Am I invited? I don't know,' he said. 'That'll be something up to them to decide.' Wedgewood got plenty of validation in the moment. The night the Lightning won the championship, they left the rink and sat together in their team meal room in the hotel, sipping beers and reminiscing while passing the Cup around. While there, Frantz Jean, the goalie coach, made a point to walk over to Wedgewood. He had tears in his eyes as he thanked the goalie for all the work he'd done. His role, glamorless though it might have been, was appreciated.
