This is a 10* play on the Dallas Stars.

When Dallas travels to Nashville to take on the Predators this Saturday, it will be a matchup of contender versus pretender. The Stars off-season acquisitions of Ales Hemsky and Jason Spezzas should put them in contention for one of the top spots in the Western Conference.

The Predators finished near the bottom of the conference last year, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. It ended up costing head coach Barry Trotz his job, but I think firing Trotz was a big mistake. This team just isn't talented enough to compete with the likes of L.A., San Jose, Anaheim etc.

Not much has changed for the Preds in the off-season, as they bring back most of the same players that failed to compete in 2013. The Stars opened their season with a home loss to Chicago, but that game was decided in a shootout, so they did register a point.

I think Dallas bounces back with a big road win tonight.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule