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Arnott, Zidlicky lead Predators past Thrashers

Sep 21, 2007 - 6:39 AM By Jim Diamond PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Jason Arnott and defenseman Marek Zidlicky each had a goal and an assist and J.P. Dumont and Matt Ellison set up two tallies apiece to lead the Nashville Predators to a 5-3 preseason victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday night.

Nashville improved its preseason record to 2-0-0, while Atlanta suffered its first loss after winning its first two games.

Zidlicky scored the game's first goal at 13:52 of the opening period. Standing at the right faceoff dot, the Czech beat Atlanta goaltender Ondrej Pavelec high to the glove side with a one-timer.

The Predators are counting on Zidlicky to rebound from a sub-par 2006-07 season in which he posted a career-low four goals and 26 assists in 79 games.

The Thrashers evened the contest late in the first as Alexandre Giroux netted his first goal of the preseason during a two-man advantage.

Arnott put the Predators back in front just 46 seconds into the second period.

Dumont led a 2-on-1 rush with Arnott, carrying the puck down the left side before freezing goaltender Ondrej Pavelec and sliding it to Arnott for an easy tap-in.

Dumont and Arnott collected assists on Vernon Fiddler's goal at 6:31 of the second. Fiddler can be looked upon to join the line to start the season, as regular linemate Steve Sullivan will be sidelined until at least December due to offseason back surgery.

Former Predator Darren Haydar's goal at 11:35 of the second drew Atlanta within 3-2.

Standing right in front of Chris Mason, Haydar tipped defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski's shot from the left point between the netminder's pads. Kwiatkowski and fellow blue-liner Karel Pilar each had two assists for the Thrashers.

Mason was replaced by Pekka Rinne after Haydar's goal, while Fred Brathwaite played the final period in net for Atlanta.

Predators defensemen Alexander Sulzer and Ryan Suter scored insurance goals, while Brett Sterling tallied late in the third for the Thrashers.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa and Vyacheslav Kozlov had the night off for Atlanta. Alexander Radulov, David Legwand and Martin Erat did not dress for Nashville.