taking it slow and make sure

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Predators were frustrated by a disallowed goal. Then they made sure the call didnt cost them a win.Shea Weber scored his second goal of the game 17 seconds into overtime, and the Predators beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Thursday night.The Predators tied Anaheim for the most points in the NHL with two games in hand. They also improved to a league-best 16-2-1 at home. Miikka Salomaki scored in his NHL debut. Roman Josi had two assists.The Predators thought they scored the winner with 3:47 left in the third period when Filip Forsberg put in a wrister.Stars coach Lindy Ruff was upset that Predators forward Craig Smith was tied up with goalie Kari Lehtonen, though he was pushed into him by Stars defenceman Jason Demers. The puck squirted over to Forsberg, who shot into a nearly empty net.Officials huddled and ruled no goal.We thought it was a goal, Weber said. But at the same time, once its called off youve got to go back and get another one. Theres nothing you can do after they overturn it. We just stuck with it.Ruff hadnt seen a replay, but he said he thought Smith made no effort to get off his goalie. The Stars have bigger issues as they fell to 0-6 in overtime this season.Were giving up points in overtime, and thats obviously hurting us in the standings, Stars centre Jason Spezza said.Spezza and Trevor Daley scored for Dallas, which was 4-1-1 in its previous six games.The Stars took their timeout with 1:31 left in regulation but couldnt beat Pekka Rinne again. They didnt get a chance in overtime as Weber scored his 10th this season on a wrister that hit Lehtonen in the right shoulder and bounced into the net for the win.The Predators have won the first three games against their Central Division rivals this season.On a very cold night in Nashville, both teams started a bit sluggishly with fans quiet, as well. Then Mike Ribeiro had a nice drop pass just after crossing the blue line near the right boards, and Weber scored on a slap shot that beat Lehtonens glove at 15:27 of the first.The Stars missed a chance to score with the man advantage late in the second period with Craig Smith in the box for interference. But just after the power play ended, Spezza scored with a wrist shot as the puck slipped between Rinne and the post and under his glove for Spezzas seventh goal this season at 12:51.Salomaki got the puck and nearly scored on a breakaway, though he tapped the rebound past Lehtonens outstretched right skate at 16:47 to give Nashville a 2-1 lead. The rookie was called up from Milwaukee earlier Thursday, and James Neal and Eric Nystrom were placed on the injured list.Daley tied it with a wrister from a tough angle, shooting from the right side. He squeezed the puck between the post and under Rinnes glove with 1.6 seconds left in the second.Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said he liked how the Predators shook off that goal and the disallowed tally.Everybodys upset, but you just move past it and you keep playing the game, Laviolette said.Rinne stopped seven shots in the third to keep it tied, including smothering a slap shot from Tyler Seguin with less than 5 minutes left.NOTES: Predators defenceman Ryan Ellis was hurt in the second period and didnt return. ... Josi had an assist on Webers goal for the 100th point of his career. ... Weber has 13 points in his past 13 games with four goals and nine assists. This was his second two-goal game this season. ... Daley has two goals and one assist against Nashville this season. ... The Predators have scored at least three goals in their last 11 games. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . During the furious first few hours of free agency Tuesday, the team agreed to terms with strong safety Donte Whitner, a Cleveland native who cant wait to play in his hometown. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Howard had 17 points and a career-high-tying 26 rebounds in his Houston debut, James Harden added 21 points and the Rockets cruised to a 96-83 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку!. Though the 26-year-old said he was able to participate, coach Dwane Casey kept Johnson out as a precaution. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! .com) - Devin Booker scored 19 points and top-ranked Kentucky put on a defensive clinic in an 83-44 obliteration of UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . The visitors missed a host of good chances to win the game, and were left to rue substitute Ivo Ilicevics strike against the crossbar in the 86th minute, when he only had the goalkeeper to beat. TORONTO -- Joffrey Lupul knows he shouldnt have pushed it. When the Toronto Maple Leafs winger with a history of lower-back issues felt the area tighten up before training camp started, he acknowledged rest would have been the best approach. When he tried to skate through it, the spasms cost him a week of time on the ice with teammates. But after Lupul got through his first practice Wednesday, he was confident that mistake wont set him back too much as he tried to prepare for the start of the regular season. "Obviously not the way I wanted to start the camp, but just happy everythings feeling better now," Lupul said. "Were taking it slow. Its obviously not the same way youd probably treat an injury in the regular season. Its good that way. I guess times on my side." Barring a flare-up of back problems, Lupul is expected to get some pre-season games in before the Leafs visit the Montreal Canadiens for opening night Oct. 1. Starting with Thursdays game at the Ottawa Senators, they have six left, so there are plenty of opportunities. But Lupuls focus is on getting ready for games that matter. In that regard, Wednesdays practice -- which lasted almost two full hours -- shed some light on what Torontos forward lines could look like. He skated on left wing with centre Tyler Bozak and right-winger Phil Kessel, a line that spent limited time together last season because the 29-year-old Lupul played just 16 games due to a broken arm and concussion. James van Riemsdyk and David Clarkson skated together, though Nazem Kadri seems more likely to centre that line than Joe Colborne once things get underway. David Bolland between Mason Raymond and Nikolai Kulemin is also a possibility for the third line. "Im not exactly sure whos going to be playing with who," Lupul said. "Im sure well be mixed and matched a little throughout the year, but I think its a good mixture of speed and size. Weve added some grit, and hopefully for some guys, some experience." Some size was lacking from Leafs practice, given that enforcers Colton Orr and Frazer McLaren didnt skate with teammates. Orr, who has missed the start of camp with a leg bone bruise, skated before practice and could join team workouts over the weekend, according to coach Randy Carlyle. McLaren is out at least two weeks with a fractured right pinky finger. Lupul is fortunate that he doesnt have to sit out that length of time with back problems, and Carlyle expects him to be available for pre-season duty soon.dddddddddddd. After playing the Senators, the Leafs have a home-and-home series with the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday and Sunday, which gives the team and Lupul some options. "Hopefully the back spasm issues are behind him," Carlyle said. "Hes moving much better, felt much better and we think hes an option for us in the next couple exhibition games." Joking that he wanted to mimic former NBA star Allen Iversons famous rant about practices not being games, Lupul isnt stressed about coming out strong whenever he makes his pre-season debut. "Everyones focus is on Oct. 1, mine included," he said. "This isnt the time to really push through an injury, and were not treating it like we would if it was the regular season or playoffs or anything right now. Its just making sure that everythings 100 per cent. Were being a lot more cautious than typically you would." Once games count, dont expect Lupul to be noticeably more cautious because of the various injuries that have at times derailed his career. "Obviously you want to try and stay healthy, but youve also got to stick with what got you there and what makes you successful," Lupul said. "I think it would be a mistake to stay you cant go to the front of the net or cant get in the way of pucks or anything like that. Im hoping to just have a little better luck, and well see." Carlyle acknowledged theres "probably some merit" to the idea that Lupul goes into high-risk areas, but hes not demanding change. "I wouldnt say it has to be toned down," Carlyle said. "I think that he has to pick and choose, maybe, a little bit more, I guess, cautiously in some situations. I think what happened with him was more the fact that he was frustrated with his injuries and then trying to come back and make an impact right away." This time, Lupul can ease back in. He went full tilt in the first half of Wednesdays practice but was held out of the second half as planned. "At this stage in the season youre taking it slow and make sure youre feeling good for Oct. 1," Lupul said. "Theres still plenty of time till opening day." Notes: Troy Bodie missed practice with an oblique strain, according to Carlyle. ... The Leafs cut down to 34 players in camp by assigning forward Tyler Biggs and defenceman Jesse Blacker to the AHLs Marlies. ' ' '