Predators Insider: Weber returns but Preds lose

During the time defenseman Shea Weber was sidelined with a concussion, the Predators turned into a tight defensive unit. They allowed few mistakes and only five goals in their previous three games. With Weber back in the lineup, the Predators were sloppy in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Each of the goals was made off mistakes made by the Predators -- a fact that was not lost on the team following the game. "Self-inflicted four goals, that's how I looked at it," coach Barry Trotz said. In the three games the Predators played with Weber in the lineup, before his injury was announced, the team had allowed a total of 15 combined goals to Washington, Columbus and the Dallas Stars. Also, following the game, the Predators bemoaned the fact that they've now lost a total of four points to the Stars this season. Dallas now has 45 points in 39 games, while Nashville is stuck on 46 points as they near the halfway mark of the season with 40 games. The Predators have a game against Eastern Conference foe Carolina on Saturday. It's not big in the standings, but important in the sense that the team needs to gain some momentum with Weber in the lineup. Also, it wouldn't hurt to beat the team that hired away former Milwaukee Admirals head coach, Kirk Muller, early in the season. NOTES, QUOTES D Shea Weber returned to the ice for the Predators. He played 25:45, was a minus-2 and took four shots on goal. Weber missed the previous four games with a concussion. "I think (my) conditioning was pretty good actually," Weber said. "I felt pretty good skating-wise, just (my) hands weren't quite where I wanted them to be." LW Gabriel Bourque took a feed from RW Jordin Tootoo in front of the Dallas net with 11:29 left in the first period and fired a shot past G Kari Lehtonen. It was Bourque's first goal in his fourth NHL game. Though Bourque seemed pleased at the time, the loss provided a slight stain on the accomplishment. "Tootoo worked hard and made a nice pass right in front of the net and I just had to put the puck in," Bourque said. "It's a good feeling, but when you lose, it's not fun, like a win. But I'm still happy to have my goal." RW Jordin Tootoo dropped the gloves and fought Dallas D Mark Fistric. On Dec. 23, Fistric's hit caused the concussion that knocked Weber out for four games. The Predators said that they were unaware before the game that Tootoo would fight Fistric. "He knew what the situation was right off the bat," Tootoo said "It's a little retribution to get the boys fired up." PLAYER NOTES D Shea Weber played 25:45 and was a minus-2 in his first game back after missing four games with a concussion. Weber hadn't played since Dec. 23. RW Jordin Tootoo notched a career-high in points with an assist on LW Gabriel Bourque's goal. Tootoo has 19 points in 38 games. His previous career-high was 18. The Predators scratched D Jonathon Blum and D Ryan Ellis. It was the second consecutive game Blum had been scratched. Nashville coach Barry Trotz said he would decide later whether to make a roster move with either of the defenseman -- he doesn't want to carry eight defenders. QUOTE TO NOTE "We pretty much gave them every goal by mistakes we made." -- D Ryan Suter.