Nashville Predators surround 19 years old Samuel Girard (94) as he celebrates his first NHL goal in his second game. Girard’s goal came in front of his parents who flew in from Quebec to see him play against the Dallas Stars, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (SportsNashville.net Photo/Mike Strasinger)

Girard gets first NHL goal, Predators beat Stars 4-1

Forsberg, Arvidsson, Subban Also Tally as Nashville Wins Second Straight

Hillsboro Globe Reporter – Hillsboro Globe Staff, Sports Editor

NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Samuel Girard #94 of the Nashville Predators holds the puck from his first career NHL goal scored during an NHL game against the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena on October 12, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Four unanswered goals for the Nashville Predators were more than enough to defeat the Dallas Stars by a 4-1 final on Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena, but it the showstopper was the 19 year who earned his first NHL goal in front of his parents who flew in from Quebec to watch him play.

Samuel Girard is making more than big plays, he is making a big first impression.

Girard’s goal along with those scored by Forsberg, Arvidsson, and Subban led Nashville to victory and their first win streak of the young season, having won two in a row to push their record to 2-2-0

Girard scored his first NHL goal and added an assist to lead the Nashville Predators to a 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

The 19-year-old Girard was playing his second NHL game. The 2016 second-round pick had an assist in his debut Tuesday night.

“Everybody’s happy for him,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. “All the guys are pulling for him. He’s a young kid, he’s only in his second game. He’s delivering big plays at big moments.”

Filip Forsberg and P.K. Subban also had a goal and an assist, and Viktor Arvidsson also scored for the Predators, winners of two straight. Pekka Rinne made 30 saves.

Jamie Benn had Dallas’ lone goal. The Stars have lost three of four to open the season.

Nashville has surrendered the first goal in three of its four games.

Girard evened the game at 1 at 3:27 of the second. From above the left faceoff circle, Subban slid a pass to the 19-year-old rookie at the right point, where he beat goaltender Ben Bishop with a one-timer high to the stick side.

“It was my goal before the game to bring some more pucks at the net,” Girard said. “It was a great shot, so it (went) in.”

Bishop made 27 saves.

Viktor Arvitsson swivels and hypnotizes Andre Radulov with his score against the Dallas Stars Thursday, 10/12/17. Flip Forsberg flipped the puck to Ardvisson to get the assist. (SportsNashville.net/Mike Strasinger)

Forsberg made it 2-1 at 6:21 of the second. With Nashville on a power play, Bishop got his glove on Girard’s slap shot from atop the left circle. Skating through the right circle, Forsberg tapped the rebound past the fallen Bishop and defenseman Esa Lindell, who tried to knock Forsberg’s shot away.

At 15:09 of the third, Forsberg’s pass from the left point sent Arvidsson through the slot on a breakaway, and he beat Bishop with a wrist shot.

Subban added an empty-net goal at 18:06.

Notes:

Predators captain Roman Josi missed his second consecutive game with a lower-body injury.
Benn has points in four straight games against Nashville.
Former Predators captain Kimmo Timonen attended the game.
Rinne made his 500th career NHL start.

UP NEXT:

Stars: Hosts Colorado on Saturday.

Predators: At Chicago on Saturday.