Predators aim strong power play at Stars defense

If one wanted to file it under the category of short sample size, it would certainly be understandable. After all, the Nashville Predators are just two games into an 82-game NHL season that they hope includes a long playoff run.

But if those games are any indication, it looks like they can count on a lethal power play to provide a consistent scoring punch.

In splitting a weekend home-and-home series with the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville (1-1-0) scored four of its six goals while a man up, including all three in Friday night's 3-2 win. Its power play marker in Saturday night's 5-3 defeat at the United Center was scored six seconds after Artem Amisimov went into the box for tripping.

So the Dallas Stars, who visit Bridgestone Arena Tuesday night, might want to try to stay out of the box and not give the Predators man-advantage opportunities.

Coach Peter Laviolette had a simple explanation for Nashville's early power play success.

"Shooting the puck ... I mean, that's a big thing," he said. "Getting that front presence -- we seem to be supporting the puck well. So good things are happening there."

Between the Predators' potent power play and Dallas' ability to light the lamp, this might be a free-flowing game. The Stars (1-1-0) have scored nine goals in their first two games, although they've also allowed eight.

Dallas' inability to stop the other guy was the reason for its 6-5 loss Saturday night in Colorado, which tallied five straight markers after the Stars grabbed a 2-0 lead.

"We had our chances, but we gave up a lot," left wing Jamie Benn said. "We didn't do enough to win the hockey game and we didn't deserve to win. When you play like that, it doesn't matter if you scored five. It's unacceptable."

Dallas goalie Antti Niemi was victimized by poor defense in front of him at Colorado, allowing five goals on just 20 shots before being replaced by Kari Lehtonen at 7:05 of the second period. Lehtonen stopped 12 of 13 shots, but the damage was done.

Stars coach Lindy Ruff said Niemi struggled with rebound control.

"The puck wasn't sticking to him," Ruff said of Niemi. "Some of the pucks were getting away from him, that created the extra chances."

Ruff wants to see Dallas get off to quicker starts. It was outshot 17-1 in the first period of its season-opening 4-2 win over Anaheim on Thursday night and then buried itself Saturday night after potting two goals in the game's first seven minutes.

Nashville would probably like to get out of the blocks a bit faster, too. It gave up the first goal in its win against Chicago and then dug a 3-0 hole before the first period's end Saturday night, which essentially decided the game even though it outshot the Blackhawks 36-28.

Regardless, the Predators have seen enough positives from the first two games, especially with the power play, to reinforce their notion that this will be a banner season.

"It's a special group," said defenseman P.K. Subban. "If we just focus on what we're doing on the ice, we're going to have a lot of success. We have to play hard and keep moving forward."