NOTES: Stars can't survive horrendous start, Dowling and Ritchie injured

DALLAS — This may have been the worst period of the season.

The Dallas Stars allowed four goals on 12 shots in the opening stanza and never really recovered in a 7-3 setback against the Nashville Predators on Thursday.

Dallas did score three times in the second period, but it wasn’t nearly enough to make up for the putrid start.

Injuries pile up

Justin Dowling only played two shifts and left the game after getting hit in the head with a stick.

Brett Ritchie was unavailable due to a lower-body injury, leaving the Stars with 10 forwards after starting the game with an 11-7 alignment.

Because of the injuries the Stars will need to recall a pair of forwards before Saturday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche.

Postgame video

The goals

First period

1:06 Viktor Arvidsson scored when he poked a pass from Craig Smith past Antti Niemi. Predators 1, Stars 0

13:02 Craig Smith finished Annti Niemi’s first period when he slipped a shot passed on the rush. Predators 2, Stars 0

18:16 Kevin Fiala ripped a wrist shot over Kari Lehtonen’s shoulder. Predators 3, Stars 0

18:52 Arvidsson scored his second goal of the period and banked shot off Jamie Oleksiak’s foot. Predators 4, Stars 0

Second period

1:06 Harry Zolniercyzk gave Nashville another early goal in a period. Predators 5, Stars 0

2:47 Jason Spezza ended the run and started a potential comeback with a wrist shot. Predators 5, Stars 1

10:30 Radek Faksa scored on a deflection after an initial shot by Dan Hamhuis. Predators 5, Stars 2

12:51 Jason Dickinson scored on a rebound. Predators 5, Stars 3

17:27 Roman Josi scored on a 5-on-3 power play. Predators 6, Stars 3

Third period

13:52 Craig Smith’s shot hit off John Klingberg and went past Lehtonen. Predators 7, Stars 3

Stars lineup

Jamie Benn — Cody Eakin — Devin Shore
Remi Elie — Tyler Seguin — Adam Cracknell
Gemel Smith — Radek Faksa — Jason Spezza
Jason Dickinson — Justin Dowling

Esa Lindell — John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis — Julius Honka
Jamie Oleksiak — Stephen Johns/Greg Pateryn

Antti Niemi
Kari Lehtonen

Scratched: Patrik Nemeth

Injured: Mattias Janmark (knee), Antoine Roussel (hand), Curtis McKenzie (eye), Jiri Hudler (groin), Ales Hemsky (hip), Brett Ritchie (lower body)