Anton Khudobin made a career-high 49 saves to lead the Dallas Stars to a 2-0 victory over the slumping Nashville Predators on Thursday night.
Tyler Pitlick and Mattias Janmark scored for Dallas, which has won two of three.
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Anton Khudobin made a career-high 49 saves to lead the Dallas Stars to a 2-0 victory over the slumping Nashville Predators on Thursday night.
Khudobin posted his first shutout of the season and seventh of his career. He was tested often, with his best save coming with six minutes remaining when he denied Ryan Johansen's slap shot from the right side with Nashville on a power play.
Janmark's unassisted goal at 11:09 of the second doubled the Dallas lead.
NOTES: Dallas is 15-1-1 when leading after two periods this season. ... Pitlick has scored in consecutive games for the first time this season. ... Nashville RW Ryan Hartman played his 200th NHL game. ... The Predators have not scored on the power play in nine of their last 10 games.
Predators: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday.
Dallas Stars center Mattias Janmark, upper left, of Sweden, scores a goal against Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg (3), of Sweden, and Nashville Predators right wing Viktor Arvidsson (33), also of Sweden, work for the puck in front of goaltender Anton Khudobin (35), of Kazakhstan, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Dallas Stars center Radek Faksa (12), of the Czech Republic, and Nashville Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis (5) compete for puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, deflects a shot as Dallas Stars center Jason Spezza (90) attempts to get control of the rebound during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Dallas Stars right wing Denis Gurianov (34), of Russia, moves the puck away from Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Dallas Stars center Tyler Pitlick (18) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Dallas Stars center Tyler Pitlick (18) moves the puck past Nashville Predators right wing Ryan Hartman (38) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Pekka Rinne stopped 28 shots for the Predators, who have lost five straight.
Dallas Stars left wing Blake Comeau, left, collides with Nashville Predators right wing Craig Smith during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Stars won 2-0. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Khudobin posted his first shutout of the season and seventh of his career. He was tested often, with his best save coming with six minutes remaining when he denied Ryan Johansen's slap shot from the right side with Nashville on a power play.
Pitlick scored the first goal at 7:20 of the opening period.
After a give-and-go with linemate Radek Faksa, Pitlick used Predators defenseman Matt Irwin as a screen and beat Rinne with a wrist shot from the left circle to the far side.
Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban, top, checks Dallas Stars center Devin Shore (17) into the boards during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Stars won 2-0. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Janmark's unassisted goal at 11:09 of the second doubled the Dallas lead.
Irwin could not control a bouncing puck at the Stars blue line and Janmark carried it the other way. From the top of the left faceoff circle, Janmark pulled up and fired a slap shot on net. The puck deflected off Rinne's glove and trickled across the goal line.
The banged-up Predators got two players back in the lineup. Star defenseman P.K. Subban missed 19 games with an upper-body injury and forward Viktor Arvidsson missed 21 games with a broken thumb. Both were activated off injured reserve.
Dallas Stars center Devin Shore (17) attempts to get a shot off against Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Stars won 2-0. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
NOTES: Dallas is 15-1-1 when leading after two periods this season. ... Pitlick has scored in consecutive games for the first time this season. ... Nashville RW Ryan Hartman played his 200th NHL game. ... The Predators have not scored on the power play in nine of their last 10 games.
UP NEXT
Stars: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
Nashville Predators right wing Viktor Arvidsson, second from left, falls against Dallas Stars defenseman Roman Polak (45), of the Czech Republic, while battling for the puck in front of goaltender Anton Khudobin (35), of Kazakhstan, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Stars won 2-0. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Predators: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday.
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Dallas Stars center Mattias Janmark (13), of Sweden, celebrates with center Devin Shore (17) after Janmark scored a goal against the Nashville Predators during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Dallas Stars center Mattias Janmark, upper left, of Sweden, scores a goal against Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg (3), of Sweden, and Nashville Predators right wing Viktor Arvidsson (33), also of Sweden, work for the puck in front of goaltender Anton Khudobin (35), of Kazakhstan, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Dallas Stars center Radek Faksa (12), of the Czech Republic, and Nashville Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis (5) compete for puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, deflects a shot as Dallas Stars center Jason Spezza (90) attempts to get control of the rebound during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Dallas Stars right wing Denis Gurianov (34), of Russia, moves the puck away from Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Dallas Stars center Tyler Pitlick (18) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)
Dallas Stars center Tyler Pitlick (18) moves the puck past Nashville Predators right wing Ryan Hartman (38) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Zaleski)