Predators defeat Stars in overtime
NASHVILLE — Ryan Johansen scored 43 seconds into overtime and the Nashville Predators beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 Thursday night for their second straight win — and a little cushion in the Central Division. Juuse Saros made 27 saves to improve to 14-61, with wins in six of his past seven starts. Viktor Arvidsson had a goal and an assist, and Craig Smith also scored for Nashville, which evened up the season series with Dallas at 2-2-0 and pushed the second-place Predators’ lead to nine points over the Stars in the division. Taylor Fedun and Miro Heiskanen scored for Dallas, which ended its season-high five-game winning streak. Saros made a pad save on Alexander Radulov with 1:38 left in regulation, and Nashville had a chance late with Johansen’s shot from the slot wide. Johansen made up for that with his winner with a wrist shot from the inside edge of the right circle. Nashville had a lot on the line, wanting revenge after a 3-1 loss to the Stars last weekend on the Predators’ home ice. The Predators also debuted forwards Brian Boyle and Cody McLeod after a pair of trades Wednesday, and center Kyle Turris
returned after missing the previous 17 games because of an injury. The 6-foot-6 Boyle immediately joined the top power-play unit, planting himself in front of the net, and McLeod just missed on a scoring chance in the second. The Predators finally beat Dallas goalie Anton Khudobin
by literally scoring off him. Kevin Fiala’s shot deflected off Smith’s back over the net and bounced off Khudobin’s back and in at 17:48 of the period.
BASKETBALL
› ATLANTA — Pascal Siakam scored 33 points and Fred VanVleet added 30 as the Toronto Raptors rallied after trailing by 17 points in the first half to beat the Atlanta Hawks 119-101 Thursday night. The totals were the most for each as an NBA player. The Raptors were short-handed after trading four players in two deals before the trade deadline earlier in the day. They used only nine players and relied heavily on Siakam, who also had 13 rebounds, and VanVleet with All-Star Kawhi Leonard resting. Taurean Price and rookie guard Trae Young each had 19 points for Atlanta, which led 66-49 in the second quarter before the Raptors used an 11-0 run to launch their comeback. Danny Green sank three free throws to cap the run. Toronto kept the momentum in the third quarter and led 88-85 entering the final period. The Raptors opened the fourth with a 13-3 burst to extend the lead in their third straight win. Toronto’s Kyle Lowry had 13 points while making only three of 13 shots from the field, and he had 13 assists. John Collins had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta. The Hawks are expected to release two players acquired in separate deals, Jabari Bird and Shelvin Mack. The Hawks traded Tyler Dorsey to the Memphis Grizzlies for Mack and acquired Bird and cash from the Celtics.