Mattias Janmark had a goal and an assist in the third period for the Stars. John Klingberg assisted on both power-play goals to start the third before Sekera’s first goal in nearly three years.

Dallas got its first goal with 1:08 left in the second period, when Jason Dickinson skated around the back of the net and passed across the front of goalie Pekka Rinne to Blake Comeau for the shot that made it 2-1.

Rinne and Stars goalie Ben Bishop both had 31 saves.

Dallas reached the midpoint of its 82-game regular season with its third win in a row and in third place in the Western Conference standings. The Stars also overcame a 2-0 deficit in their previous game, with four goals in the third period of a 4-2 win at Arizona on Sunday.

Nashville has lost three in a row, and is 11th in the West after making the playoffs last season — and losing in a six-game, first-round series against Dallas.

Perry issued game misconduct

The Predators led 2-0 after Matt Duchene scored a goal and assisted on another by Dante Fabbro during the extended power play from Perry’s penalty less than three minutes into the game.

Ellis was down on the ice for a short time, before being helped off the ice. He was then taken to the locker room on a motorized cart and never returned.

Predators coach Peter Laviolette said after the game that Ellis «got banged up pretty good» without providing a more detailed update.

The hit by Perry came right after Ellis had gotten the puck in front of the blue line. Officials issued the game misconduct penalty after reviewing replay.

«It was an awkward play. It was very unintentional,» Perry said after the game. «I didn’t mean to do it. I hope he’s okay.»

After another Dallas penalty created a 5-on-3, Duchene’s ninth goal put the Predators up 1-0. Time was running out on the five-minute major against Perry when Duchene assisted on Fabbro’s fourth goal.