Hoglander’s Late First-Period Winner Lifts Predators Past Stars 2-1

Deciding Runs in the Opener

The Nashville Predators secured a 2-1 victory over the visiting Dallas Stars on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena. The outcome hinged on a flurry of scoring activity confined entirely to the first period, where both teams traded blows before Nashville pulled ahead for good. With the final score locked in 2-1, the Predators improved their record to 1-1-0, earning two points, while the Stars fell to 0-2-0 with no points on the board.

First-Period Back-and-Forth

The game unfolded with immediate intensity, as all three goals were recorded in the opening frame. Dallas struck first to take a 1-0 lead. Miro Heiskanen tallied the goal for the Stars, utilizing a wrist shot. He received assists from Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston. The Predators responded swiftly to level the score at 1-1. Steven Stamkos found the back of the net with a snap shot, assisted by Ryan O'Reilly and Roman Josi. Nashville then completed the comeback sequence to take a 1-2 lead. Nils Hoglander scored the decisive goal with a deflected shot, aided by Jack Ahcan and Alexander Kerfoot. The momentum shift in this period proved decisive, as neither team managed to add to the score in the subsequent frames.

Scoring Breakdown and Stats

The statistical lines reflect the early finish to the scoring. For Nashville, Nils Hoglander was the standout scorer with one goal. Roman Josi contributed one assist, while Steven Stamkos recorded one point. On the Dallas side, Miro Heiskanen led the offense with one goal. Mikko Rantanen provided one assist, and Heiskanen also accumulated one point. The rest of the roster remained without additional scoring lines in the official statistics provided.

Venue and Attendance

The contest took place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The crowd of 17,260 fans witnessed the complete scoring action before the second period began. The Predators' home advantage was evident in their ability to close out the scoring early, maintaining their lead through the remainder of the regulation time. The Stars were unable to generate further offensive output, leaving them with their first loss of the season. The final whistle confirmed the 2-1 result, solidifying the Predators' first win of their campaign.

Sources

ESPN