Josh Cooper

jcooper2@tennessean.com

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DALLAS – Predators defenseman Shea Weber is as solid a professional as there is in the NHL.

He demands excellence on the ice and works off the ice to achieve and maintain a high level.

But after a 3-2 shootout loss to the Stars on Tuesday night eliminated the Predators from postseason contention, the team captain vented his frustration.

"Nobody likes losing. It's frustrating," he said, pausing for a second. "I don't know. I don't know what to say. It sucks. I hate it. Everyone in here hates it, and it's not a good feeling. Something's got to change. We have to get better, and we have to find a way to get into the postseason."

The Predators put on quite a push at the end of the season, getting points in eight of their past nine games, including four straight. But the loss Tuesday ensured two straight non-playoff seasons for the Predators (35-32-12) for the first time since the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.

With the victory, the Stars, who currently own the final playoff spot, can max out at 89 points. The best the Predators could do is 88 points.

The mood in the Predators' locker room was subdued. Players stuffed their bags and didn't talk.

"It doesn't feel good. It's tough. It's tough to take for sure," said goaltender Pekka Rinne, who is 0-for-3 in shootouts this season, including Tuesday when he allowed the game-winner by Tyler Seguin.

It wasn't one particular element that doomed the Predators against Dallas. Predators forward Gabriel Bourque scored twice, and the team fired 29 shots on goal.

But when a team needs to come from behind to make the postseason in the NHL, it needs to get every break imaginable. And Nashville couldn't get enough against Dallas.

"We got there for a number of years. We had a couple of teams that were pretty decent, and we felt we could do it again," coach Barry Trotz said. "We always want to find a way, and this group almost found a way."

Reach Josh Cooper at 615-726-8917 and on Twitter @joshuacooper.