DALLAS (Ticker) -- At least the Nashville Predators were able to cool down Bill Guerin in one of their weekend meetings with the Dallas Stars.
Guerin recorded his second hat trick in three games and Sergei Zubov added three assists as the Stars skated to a 7-3 victory over the Predators in the second game of a home-and-home series.
Held to just three goals and an assist in his first eight games, Guerin erupted for three assists against Columbus on October 25, four days before notching his first hat trick in a Dallas uniform vs. Calgary.
In Nashville on Saturday, Guerin was kept off the scoresheet as the Stars settled for a 1-1 tie. But in this one, the two-time U.S. Olympian broke through early, giving Dallas the lead 76 seconds into the contest.
"They are a tough team," Stars captain Mike Modano said. "They play great at home. We played them tough. Fortunately, we came out with that tie."
With the Stars holding a two-goal lead midway through the second, Guerin netted a power-play tally to make it 4-1. He completed his fifth career hat trick 5:29 into the third with his ninth goal of the season, giving Dallas a 6-2 advantage.
"You appreciate the times that it's going, and you try and keep them going," Guerin said. "You go out and play hard, do what you are supposed to do and let it happen."
"It was another great game for us and for Guerin," Dallas coach Dave Tippett said. "We'll see if we can keep this momentum up."
Four players had a goal and an assist apiece for the Stars, who improved to 3-0-1 in their last four games.
Vladimir Orszagh had two assists for Nashville, which fell to 2-8-0-1 in 11 visits to Dallas.
After Guerin beat Tomas Vokoun with a wrist shot from the right side of the net to open the scoring, Modano put a wrister between the goaltender's pads from the right faceoff circle at 8:45 of the first for a 2-0 lead.
The Predators nearly halved the deficit on a 5-on-3 power play with five minutes left, but after defenseman Marek Zidlicky's shot from the left point snuck between Marty Turco's pads, it was cleared out of the crease and away from danger.
"That was a big momentum boost for Dallas," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said.
Dallas converted a power play early in the second to increase its advantage. Zubov's blast from the right point went wide of the net and banked off the end boards to Stu Barnes at the left goalpost. Vokoun was able to prevent Barnes from scoring, but Brenden Morrow knocked in the puck from the right side at 2:13 for his first goal of the season.
Zidlicky completed a nice passing play at 6:49 to get the Predators on the board, but Guerin unleashed a blast from the left circle at 11:11 to rebuild Dallas' three-goal cushion.
"I've been the recipient of some really nice plays the last few games," Guerin said. "I just want to keep working with Brenden and Arny (Jason Arnott). We just need to keep working and keep going out there and doing it on the ice."
"The one thing he can do is shoot the puck," Trotz said. "He found the quiet areas. If you give him time to shoot the puck, he's going to score a lot of goals."
Guerin also earned plenty of praise from his opponents.
"He's one of the best players," Predators defenseman Kimmo Timonen said. "If you give him a chance to score, he'll score on you. He's always around the net."
"He played great," added Nashville defenseman Jason York. "When he got a chance, he buried it. That's what great goal-scorers do. When they get a chance, they bury it."
Timonen drew Nashville within 4-2 with a slap shot from the right point that found its way just inside the right post with 4:12 remaining in the second. But Niko Kapanen and Guerin tallied 69 seconds apart early in the third to signal the end for the Predators.
Chris Mason replaced Vokoun and faced 11 shots in 14 1/2 minutes, allowing only Arnott's shot from the edge of the right circle to elude him. The goal was the third in four games for Arnott.
"I think they say, 'Every good hockey player has a great wife behind him,'" Tippett joked. "Jason has worked hard. He took off 10 to 12 pounds to pick up foot speed and it continues to pay off."
Scott Walker capped the scoring with a power-play goal with 27 seconds left.
