Dallas Stars score 4 goals in 5 shots to take down Predators 4-3 in both teams' season opener

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dallas scored three goals on consecutive shots in the second period to hold off the Nashville Predators 4-3 Thursday night in the season opener for both teams.

Mason Marchment scored two goals in the win, while Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson each had a goal apiece for Dallas. Logan Stankoven had three assists.

Filip Forsberg scored the first goal for Nashville in the second period and had an assist. Tommy Novak scored in the third. Ryan O'Reilly gave the Predators a fighting chance with 1:35 remaining by scoring a goal with six Nashville skaters on the ice.

It wasn't enough as O'Reilly and Steven Stamkos both hit a post in the final 50 seconds.

The Predators were big spenders to kick off free agency with general manager Barry Trotz looking to boost the power play and add scoring depth with Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and defenseman Brady Skjei. That didn't come to fruition in the season opener, with Nashville finishing 1-of-6 with the man advantage.

Stars: Dallas picked up right where it left off after it led the Western Conference with 113 points and made the conference finals last season. The Stars scored all four goals in a five-shot span in the second period.

Predators: Scott Wedgewood made 16 saves in his Nashville debut with Juuse Saros sidelined by a lower-body injury. Saros got an eight-year contract this summer after finishing fifth in the Vezina Trophy voting and fourth in 2024.

Dallas broke open a scoreless game scoring two goals 19 seconds apart early in the second. Hintz put a wrister over Wedgewood's shoulder stick side at 2:05, then Hintz set up Robertson for the 2-0 lead at 2:24.

Forsberg's goal gave him a point in his ninth-straight season opener, extending the NHL's longest active streak.

The Stars start a three-game home stand with the Islanders on Saturday, while the Predators visit Detroit also on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) skates the puck past Nashville Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro (57) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) celebrates his goal with center Jonathan Marchessault (81) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators center Philip Tomasino (26) skates the puck past Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators right wing Luke Evangelista (77) skates the puck past Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell (23) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Dallas Stars defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin (46) and Nashville Predators left wing Cole Smith (36) collide as they chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist (5) and Nashville Predators left wing Cole Smith (36) fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment (27) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game Nashville Predators, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) blocks a shot on goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment (27) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s central bank on Friday cut its policy rate for the first time in more than four years as pressure to revive a sluggish economy outweighed concerns about the country’s level of household debt.

The Bank of Korea lowered its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point to 3.25% following a meeting of its monetary policy committee, in its first move to lower borrowing costs since May 2020, when the economy was weathering the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bank raised the rate by a quarter percentage point in August 2021 over concerns about inflation and soaring household debt, driven in part by skyrocketing house prices, and then froze rates for over three years.

The bank said in a statement that domestic demand is making a slow recovery, bogging down the pace of economic growth. It said there was room for a rate cut because inflation is showing signs of stabilizing and household debt is also increasing more slowly as the housing market in the greater Seoul area cools down.

South Korea’s trade-dependent economy is facing increasing uncertainties, including the growing crisis in the Middle East that could potentially influence fuel prices, exchange rates and public utility prices, the bank said.

“The future path of economic growth is likely to be influenced by the pace of recovery in domestic demand, economic conditions in major countries and trends in information-technology exports,” the bank said.

“The growth in house prices in the metropolitan area and household debt is expected to gradually slow down due to the strengthening of macroprudential policies,” aimed at maintaining the stability of the financial system, the bank said.

“However, there’s still a need to monitor related risks, such as the impact the lowered base interest rate may have on household debt.”

The bank projects South Korea’s economy to grow at 2.4% this year, down from 2.6% in 2023.

The headline of this story has been edited to reflect that the central bank cut, not raised, its policy interest rate.

Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong speaks during a press conference at the central bank in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)