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(Sports Network) - The Nashville Predators hope to snap a recent string of futility against the Dallas Stars when the two postseason contenders face off tonight at Gaylord Entertainment Center.

Dallas has taken each of the last five meetings between the clubs, including both previous encounters this season, and is 9-1-1 (1 tie) over its 11 most recent games with the Predators.

Nashville will also try to rebound from two straight defeats at the hands of rival Detroit. After earning a 5-2 win in the Music City on Tuesday, the Red Wings swept the critical home-and-home set with Wednesday's 4-2 triumph.

With the latest win, Detroit moved one point in front of the Predators for first place in both the Central Division and the Western Conference.

Jason Arnott and Alexander Radulov both had goals and Chris Mason made 31 stops for the Predators, who have dropped four of six.

Peter Forsberg has not played during that six-game stretch because of an upper-body injury, and Nashville was also without three other top forwards in Steve Sullivan (back spasms), Martin Erat (sprained knee) and Scott Hartnell (broken foot) on Wednesday.

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