1. David Legwand, Nashville: Hat trick. His line set the tone early and forced Dallas to chase.

2. Chris Mason, Nashville: Goalie lost his shutout streak, but he came up big on a couple of shots and helped frustrate the Stars' power play.

3. Martin Erat, Nashville: Even with all of the skill this team lost in the summer, it still has decent wingers.

First period: The two sides got the fisticuffs out of the way early, as Krys Barch fought Jordin Tootoo and Brad Winchester battled Darcy Hordichuk in the first three minutes of the game. Barch looked good. So did Hordichuk. Nashville then took a 1-0 lead at the 6:37 mark when Martin Erat took the puck around the net and fired it into the crease, where David Legwand knocked it in.

Nashville 1, Stars 0

Second period: Dallas mounted a solid rally with 11 shots on goal in the period, but Nashville took control on the strength of two goals. J.P. Dumont waited out Mike Smith on the power play and then lifted a shot over the glove of the Stars' goaltender. Legwand then capped off a 2-on-1 for his second goal of the game.

Nashville 3, Stars 0

Third period: The Stars Got three power-play opportunities early in the period but couldn't use the man advantage to spark a comeback. Barch made a nice move on a rush to the net to stop Chris Mason's season-opening shutout streak at 113:14, but Dallas could not do any more damage. Martin Gelinas put the game away with an empty-netter. Legwand then finished off a perfect ending for for the Predators with a hat trick.

Nashville 5, Stars 1