The Nashville Predators beat the Dallas Stars 5-1 at Bridgestone Arena on April 16, routing their Central Division rivals in their season finale.

Though the Stars went up 1-0 on a goal by Mason Marchment just 16 seconds in, the Predators scored five straight in the first and second periods to take a 5-1 lead. Jordan Oesterle, Jakub Vrana, Justin Barron, Jonathan Marchessault and Ryan O’Reilly scored for Nashville.

O’Reilly led all skaters with three points, including two assists.

Special teams played a key role for Nashville (30-44-8, 68 points). The Predators held the Stars to 0-for-5 on the power play, while scoring a power play in the second.

Dallas (50-26-6, 106 points) is set to face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs, but will finish the regular season on a seven-game losing streak.

Juuse Saros made 29 saves in the win, his 20th of the season. Jake Oettinger, who made 17 saves in the loss, was pulled prior to the third period. Casey DeSmith made 12 saves in relief.

STAMKOS: Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos on this season: ‘Sucked into the negativity’

Ryan O’Reilly’s power play goal at the 9:49 mark put the Predators up 5-1. It was a beautiful setup between O’Reilly, Filip Forsberg, and Jonathan Marchessault.

So far, this game is the polar opposite of what happened in the Predators’ season opening loss to the Stars that set up a season of disappointment.

After giving up a goal in the first 16 seconds, Nashville has dominated Dallas in this one.

At the 6:31 mark of the second, Steven Stamkos found Marchessault wide open on the back door, who tapped in the puck for an easy score to make it 4-1.

It was Marchessault’s 21st goal of the season and Stamkos’ 26th assist.

Late in the first period, the Predators added another. Justin Barron deflected a pass from Luke Evangelista into the net to put Nashville up 3-1.

Stars lead in shots 11-10 after 20 minutes, but the Predators took it to them in the final 10 minutes of the period.

This game turned around quickly as the Predators score two goals in 49 seconds to go ahead 2-1.

First, Jordan Oesterle scored his fourth goal of the season, getting a fortunate bounce off a Stars defender for the score. Then, in the next shift, Oesterle shot again from the point, only this time Jakub Vrana deflected the puck by Jake Oettinger.

The Stars did not take long to assert their dominance over the Predators. After taking the opening face-off into the Nashville zone, Tyler Seguin found Mason Marchment all alone in front of Juuse Saros, who sent it into the back of the net.

It was Marchment’s 22nd goal of the season and Seguin’s first assist since Nov. 29. Seguin has been out with an injury since Dec. 1.

The Nashville Predators vs. Dallas Stars game will be televised by FanDuel Sports Network South with streaming available via FUBO and ESPN+ (outside of the Nashville TV market).

Odds according to BetMGM on Wednesday, April 16

PUCK LINE:  Predators +1.5 at -185, Stars -1.5 at +150O/U:  6.5 goalsMONEY LINE: Predators +140, Stars -165

All times Central; Games on FanDuel Sports Network South unless otherwise noted

Record: 29-44-8, 66 points

October

Oct. 10: Dallas Stars, L 4-3Oct. 12: at Detroit Red Wings, L 3-0Oct. 15: Seattle Kraken, L 7-3Oct. 17: Edmonton Oilers, L 4-2Oct. 19: Detroit Red Wings, L 5-2Oct. 22: Boston Bruins, W 4-0Oct. 25: at Chicago Blackhawks, W 3-2Oct. 26: Columbus Blue Jackets, W 4-3 OTOct. 28: at Tampa Bay Lightning, L 3-2 OTOct. 31: Edmonton Oilers, L 5-1

November

Nov. 2: Colorado Avalanche, W 5-2Nov. 4: Los Angeles Kings, L 3-0Nov. 6: at Washington Capitals, L 3-2Nov. 7: at Florida Panthers, L 6-2Nov. 9: Utah Hockey Club, W 4-0Nov. 11: at Colorado Avalanche, L 3-2 OTNov. 14: at Edmonton Oilers, L 3-2 OTNov. 15: at Calgary Flames, L 2-0Nov. 17: at Vancouver Canucks, W 5-3Nov. 20: at Seattle Kraken, L 3-0Nov. 23: Winnipeg Jets, W 4-1Nov. 25: at New Jersey Devils, L 5-2Nov. 27: Philadelphia Flyers, L 3-2 OTNov. 29: Tampa Bay Lightning, L 3-2 OTNov. 30: at Minnesota Wild, L 3-2 OT

December

Dec. 4: at Toronto Maple Leafs, L 3-2Dec. 5: at Montreal Canadiens, L 3-0Dec. 7: at Ottawa Senators, L 3-1Dec. 10: Calgary Flames, L 4-3Dec. 12: at Dallas Stars, W 4-1Dec. 14: at Colorado Avalanche, L 5-2Dec. 17: New York Rangers, W 2-0Dec. 19: Pittsburgh Penguins, L 5-4 OTDec. 21: Los Angeles Kings, W 3-2 OTDec. 23: Carolina Hurricanes, W 5-2Dec. 27: at St. Louis Blues, L 7-4Dec. 30: at Winnipeg Jets, L 3-0Dec. 31: at Minnesota Wild, L 5-3

January

Jan. 3: at Vancouver Canucks, W 3-0Jan. 4: at Calgary Flames, W 4-1Jan. 7: at Winnipeg Jets, L 5-2Jan. 11: Washington Capitals, L 4-1Jan. 14: Vegas Golden Knights, W 5-3Jan. 16: Chicago Blackhawks, W 3-2 OTJan. 18: Minnesota Wild, W 6-2Jan. 21: San Jose Sharks, W 7-5Jan. 23: at San Jose Sharks, W 6-5Jan. 25: at Anaheim Ducks, L 5-2Jan. 29: Vancouver Canucks, L 3-1Jan. 31: at Buffalo Sabres, L 4-3

February

Feb. 1: at Pittsburgh Penguins, L 3-0Feb. 3: Ottawa Senators, L 5-2Feb. 7: at Chicago Blackhawks, L 6-2Feb. 8: Buffalo Sabres, W 6-4Feb. 22: Colorado Avalanche, W 2-1Feb. 23: New Jersey Devils, L 5-0Feb. 25: Florida Panthers, L 4-1Feb. 27: Winnipeg Jets, W 2-1

March

March 1: at New York Islanders, L 7-4March 2: at New York Rangers, L 4-0March 4: at Boston Bruins, W 6-3March 6: Seattle Kraken, W 5-3March 8: Chicago Blackhawks, W 3-2 OTMarch 11: at San Jose Sharks, W 3-2March 14: at Anaheim Ducks, L 2-1March 15: at Los Angeles Kings, L 1-0March 18: St. Louis Blues, L 4-1March 20: Anaheim Ducks, L 4-1March 22: Toronto Maple Leafs, W 5-2March 23: at St. Louis Blues, L 4-1March 25: at Carolina Hurricanes, W 3-1March 27: St. Louis Blues, L 3-2March 29: Vegas Golden Knights, L 3-1.March 31: at Philadelphia Flyers, L 2-1

April

April 1: at Columbus Blue Jackets, L 8-4April 3: at Dallas Stars, L 5-1April 6: Montreal Canadiens, L 2-1April 8: New York Islanders, W 7-6 OTApril 10: at Utah Hockey Club, W 4-3 SOApril 12: at Vegas Golden Knights, L 4-3April 14: Utah Hockey Club, L 7-3April 16: Dallas Stars, 7 p.m.

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