John Tavares scored two first-period goals, leading the New York Islanders to a 6-4 preseason victory against the Nashville Predators on Friday night.
Named team captain this month and entering his fifth NHL season, the 23-year-old Tavares beat goaltender Pekka Rinne with a tip-in 1:25 into the game, and then scored off a scramble in front six minutes later.
Lubomir Visnovsky, Colin McDonald, Matt Donovan and Josh Bailey also scored for the Islanders. Matt Moulson had three assists.
After Craig Smith scored the first of his two goals for Nashville, Visnovsky scored on a pass from Moulson to put New York in front 3-1 at the 16-minute mark of the first.
Simon Moser and Roman Josi also scored for the Predators, who arrived about two hours before the game after their flight from Nashville was delayed.
