The Dallas Stars were feeling pretty good Sunday morning, and most of Sunday evening.

Lindy Ruff's squad snapped a four-game losing streak Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Stars were up 3-1 on the Nashville Predators after 40 minutes Sunday. And then it all fell apart.

Six minutes into the third period, it was 4-3 Nashville, the final result a 5-3 Predators decision. And for the Stars, more frustration.

"You go into a third period with a 3-1 lead with your lives on the line, and that's the effort and the result that we get? It's unacceptable," captain Jamie Benn said, according to The Dallas Morning News' Mike Heika. "We're fighting for our lives, and that's what we put out there for 20 minutes."

Benn had a goal and an assist in over 22 minutes of ice time, but the ice was tilted in Nashville's favor for most of the final 40 minutes. The Predators outshot the Stars 30-13 in periods two and three combined.

"I don't know what to say," Benn added. "We've got to know by now."

The Stars could have moved without four points of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a win, but remain six points back of the Kings, and now eight points back of the Predators. Both teams have games in hand on Dallas, so Sunday's loss is undoubtedly a big one.

"It really stings," said head coach Lindy Ruff. "That's a tough one. That hurts."

There's been too many painful losses for the Stars this season, who saw goaltender Kari Lehtonen turn in another subpar performance, finishing with a .886 save percentage.

Another big game is on deck: Dallas is in Winnipeg on Tuesday night to face the Jets, and both teams are tied in the standings with 54 points.

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