Denis Gurianov gave the Stars a 1-0 lead at 14:55 of the first period. He took a pass from Pavelski and beat goalie Juuse Saros from the right face-off circle.
"I think what we're doing so well is, yeah, we can move the puck, but we see we can attack in different ways, shooting from the point, having seam plays, coming down low, down-low plays," Dallas defenseman John Klingberg said. "There's a lot of different options there, and I feel like on the breakouts and entries, we've got a lot of options there too and a lot of speed. We feel good about it right now, and it's going to have to keep being that way."
Hintz made it 2-0 at 6:36 of the second period on a wrist shot from the left circle. It was his first goal of the season.
Filip Forsberg scored on a Predators power play to make it 2-1 at 14:55. He took a cross-ice pass from Arvidsson and beat goalie Anton Khudobin with a wrist shot from the right face-off dot.
Pavelski gave the Stars a 3-1 lead at 4:51 of the third period when he one-timed a pass from Hintz. Pavelski has seven points (three goals, four assists) in the first two games.
"I think the [power play] was definitely something we focused on probably going all the way back to the bubble (in Edmonton for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs) when we came back (after the 2019-20 season was paused due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus)," Pavelski said. "It was something we worked on every day leading up to it. Coming back into this camp, it was similar. We kind of touched on it and tried to get it as clean and have good execution on it as fast as we could. With no games, it's been great to see the puck move the way it has."
Mikael Granlund scored at 9:59 to get the Predators within 3-2. It was his first goal.
"Tonight, they came out harder, and it wasn't our best 5-on-5," Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis said. "But we gave ourselves a chance to get back in the game and tie it up. Their goalie made some huge saves, and it wasn't enough."
Stars forward Jamie Benn missed the game because of a lower-body injury. He was a game-time decision, but there is no clear timetable for his return.
"I just can't give you an answer on that," Dallas coach Rick Bowness said. "It's day to day. He'll come in tomorrow and get treated, and we'll see where it is. I know it sounds like we're hiding something, but we're not. It's day to day. And hopefully he'll be back on the ice Tuesday, but we won't know until tomorrow."
Defenseman Luca Sbisa played 11:58 in his Predators debut.
Khudobin made 17 saves, and Saros made 19.
NOTES: Hynes moved Granlund on to a line with center Ryan Johansen and Arvidsson in the third period, when he had Forsberg with center Matt Duchene and Luke Kunin. … Stars forward Joel Kiviranta was placed on injured reserve Sunday because of a lower-body injury.
