DALLAS, TX — In a clash that lit up the ice like a honky-tonk Saturday night, the Nashville Predators stormed into enemy territory and flat-out took over, sending the Dallas Stars spinning with a statement 4–2 victory that screamed "Y’all better take us seriously!"
From the first drop of the puck, it was clear the Preds were ready to turn the heat way up. After an early Stars goal, Seth "Supernova" Jarvis wasted no time firing back just 48 seconds later, tying it up and setting the tone for what became a relentless Nashville onslaught. Jarvis wasn’t done — he added an assist later and skated away with First Star of the Game honors in a performance that was nothing short of electric.
And who else came to play? Pretty much everyone in gold.
Josh Norris dazzled with two slick assists and was in on everything important. Ice cold. Clutch.
Fabian Zetterlund delivered a goal that silenced the crowd in the second period, showing off the kind of hands that belong in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
And then there’s Kyle Okposo, who sealed the deal in the third with a gritty, grind-it-out finish that shouted: “We run this rink!”
Meanwhile, Pyotr Kochetkov turned into an absolute wall in net, stopping 21 of 23 and shutting down Dallas’ attempts at a comeback with poise and purpose. This guy didn’t just protect the crease — he owned it.
The Predators weren’t just playing hockey — they were playing Predator hockey: physical, fast, and fearless. Outshooting Dallas 30–23, winning key battles along the boards, and going 1-for-3 on the power play while keeping the Stars 0-for-everything — this was domination, plain and simple.
And the defense? Lockdown. The Preds shut Dallas out in the third, finishing strong and giving Kochetkov the support he needed to close the door.
With 18,000 fans watching — many of whom likely left shaking their heads — Nashville walked out of Dallas not just with another W, but with a message:
The Predators are here. They're hot. And they're hunting. Smashville, baby. Believe the hype