Nashville Is Now 3-0

Seeing Nashville’s Simon Gamache skate by without his helmet, Colorado goalie David Aebischer couldn’t resist taking a shot.

It ended up costing the Avalanche a shot at victory.

Marek Zidlicky scored his second goal on a power-play with 6 1/2 minutes to play after Aebischer’s cheap penalty, helping the Nashville Predators stay undefeated with a 5-4 victory over Colorado on Wednesday night at Denver.

“It was a stupid play by me to take that call,” said Aebischer, who gave up five goals in 18 shots. “I didn’t play the way I know I can play. It was frustrating to me and it shouldn’t happen.”

Nashville seemed sluggish in the early going, looking nothing like the team that opened 2-0 for the first time in franchise history. Shaky at both ends, the Predators fell behind, 3-0, midway through the second period before snapping out of their funk with two goals in the final eight minutes of the second period and another early in the third.

“It has been a trend for us the first three games,” Zidlicky said. “We don’t come out hard at the beginning of the game and try to feel the other team out. By that time we are down a goal or two.”

Gamache lost his helmet in a scuffle behind the goal, then skated to get back into the play. Aebischer gave the forward a pop to the side of the head as he went by.

San Jose 4, Columbus 1 -- Wayne Primeau scored two goals, Evgeni Nabokov stopped 26 shots and the Sharks won their home opener in their favorite fast-paced style.

Marco Sturm and Scott Thornton also scored for the Sharks, who took an early two-goal lead and then pounded the Blue Jackets with 22 shots and two more goals in the first 15 minutes of the second period.

Montreal 2, Atlanta 0 -- Canadien goalie Yann Danis stopped 32 shots in his NHL debut, shutting down Ilya Kovalchuk and the powerful Thrasher attack at Atlanta.

Carolina 7, Washington 2 -- Eric Staal got his fifth goal and captain Rod Brind’Amour scored his first, helping the Hurricanes revive their power play in a victory at Raleigh, N.C.

Minnesota 6, Vancouver 0 -- Matt Foy scored two goals and Dwayne Roloson made 33 saves to lead the Wild to victory at St. Paul, Minn.