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Stevenson leads Thrashers over Predators

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:17 AM By Jim Diamond PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Grant Stevenson scored two goals and set up another while Ondrej Pavelec made 36 saves to lead the Atlanta Thrashers to a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators in the preseason opener for both teams on Thursday.

Defenseman Garnet Exelby and Junior Lessard also tallied while blue-liner Grant Lewis notched a pair of assists for Atlanta.

Signed as a free agent in the offseason, Stevenson is making a case to return to the NHL after playing the last two seasons in the American Hockey League. His only NHL experience came in 2005-06 with the San Jose Sharks.

Exelby got Atlanta on the board 4:32 into the first period, and Stevenson extended the lead just over two minutes later with a power-play goal. With the Thrashers clinging to a 3-2 advantage, Stevenson added insurance with 1:42 remaining in the third.

Pekka Rinne started in goal for the Predators and surrendered two goals on the first four shots he faced. Rinne, who is expected to back up Dan Ellis this season, finished with 16 saves on 19 shots over two periods.

Mark Dekanich played the third period for Nashville and turned away nine shots.

Defenseman Kevin Klein and Ryan Jones scored for the Predators.

Klein, who will be counted on to boost a power-play unit that ranked 27th in the league last season, converted a pass from fellow blue-liner Dan Hamhuis during a man advantage with 87 seconds left in the first period to cut Nashville's deficit to 2-1.

Acquired from Minnesota in an offseason deal involving defenseman Marek Zidlicky, Jones redirected a shot by Klein past Pavelec with 5:10 remaining in the third to draw the Predators within 3-2. A Hobey Baker Award finalist following his senior season at Miami University in 2007-08, the 6-1, 207-pound Jones could earn a spot on one of Nashville's scoring lines thanks to his size and willingness to battle in front of opposing goaltenders.

The Thrashers went 2-for-11 on the power play, while the Predators scored once during eight attempts with the man advantage.

Atlanta rested superstar Ilya Kovalchuk, who led the team with 52 goals and 87 points last season.