The set-up: The 21-9-4 Nashville Predators have 46 points and the 19-14-3 Dallas Star have 41 points. The five points are the difference between first-place (Preds are tied with the Jets) and fourth-pace (where the Stars reside), in the West Conference's Central Division. This meeting in Dallas represents the third contest between the two division rivals already this season, with Nashville winning the first two, each by three goals. Nashville won 5-2 at Dallas on Dec. 5, part of a 6-0-1 stretch. However, that run has ended with the Preds getting outscored 10-5 in losses to Winnipeg and Carolina, respectively. The home loss to Nashville began a 2-4-2 run by the Stars. However, Dallas' 4-0 Thursday win over Chicago gave head coach Ken Hitchcock his 800th career victory in the process. "It feels good," said Tyler Seguin, who scored two goals in the win. "Especially when you're in a bit of a slump, get your weight off your shoulders a bit."

Nashville: With the losses to Winnipeg and Carolina, Nashville sustained back-to-back losses for the first time since Nov. 1, giving Predators head coach Peter Laviolette reason to be blunt in his assessment of his team's play. "I guess to put it as honest as possible, we're not playing hard enough," Laviolette said after the setback to the Hurricanes. The Predators have been prone to slow starts to boot, getting out-shot 62-28 in the first period over the last four games.Pekka RinGoalie ne was blitzed for four goals on six shots in Thursday's 4-1 setback to the Hurricanes and received an "early exit."

Dallas: Captain Jamie Benn is riding a five-game point streak at home and has nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last 10 in Dallas after scoring a goal in Thursday's 4-0 win over Chicago. Like Benn, Seguin has given the fans reason to cheer with points in seven of his last nine home games (six goals, five assists), after his two goals against teh Blackhawks. Goalie Ben Bishop turned aside all 24 shots he faced on Thursday, improving to 5-2-2 in his last nine games.

The pick: Sure, the Preds have won the two previous meetings with the Stars by three goals each but the Stars are coming off one of their most complete games of the season, as Bishop posted a shutout and Tyler Seguin broke an eight-game scoring drought. The Stars are 11-4-1 at home (outscoring opponents 3.44-to-2.38 GPG) and I expect them to gain a measure of revenge from their two earlier losses to the Predators and to tighten the Central Division standings, as the division rivals reconvene at American Airlines Center in the last contest before the Christmas break.Make Dallas a 10* play.