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Stars, Predators aim to regain strengths

Oct 11, 2008 - 10:07 AM Dallas (0-0-1) at Nashville (0-1-0) 8:00 p.m. EDT

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Neither the Dallas Stars nor the Nashville Predators played to their strengths during their season openers.

Both teams will try to bounce back from a loss when the Predators host the Stars in their home opener at the Sommet Center on Saturday.

Dallas ranked sixth in the NHL last season by allowing just under 2 1/2 goals per game en route to an appearance in the Western Conference finals, where it was ousted in six games by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.

However, the Stars allowed five goals against Columbus on Friday, losing by a single tally as Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash scored with 21 seconds left in overtime.

Nashville made the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season in 2007-08 by killing 85.4 percent of its penalties - the third-best mark in the league. That trend did not carry over to Friday's 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues, who scored four goals on six power-play opportunities.

"The power play was the difference," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "It changed momentum, it changed the course of the game. We can't give up four power-play goals and win a hockey game."