David Legwand’s third-period goal gives Predators 4-3 preseason victory over winless Thrashers

Predators beat winless Thrashers 4-3

ATLANTA — David Legwand scored midway in the third period to lift the Nashville Predators to a 4-3 preseason win over the winless Atlanta Thrashers on Wednesday.

Nashville’s Martin Erat had two goals and an assist and Ryan Suter had a goal and an assist. Atlanta’s Johnny Oduya had a pair of assists.

Legwand tipped in a shot 8:12 into the final period from up close to snap a 3-3 tie for Nashville (3-2). Joel Ward and Aaron Johnson had assists on the game-winner. The Thrashers fell to 0-4.

The Thrashers, who had scored only three goals in losing their first three preseason games, tied it at 3 by scoring twice in the second period within a 2:52 span on a goal by Eager at the 14-minute mark. Eager easily beat Nashville goaltender Anders Lindback from 10 feet, converting a perfect pass from Zach Bogosian.

Freddy Myer got the Thrashers within 3-2 with his goal from just inside the blue line at 11:08. His goal came only 16 seconds after Nashville had taken a 3-1 lead on Erat’s second goal of the game, a power-play shot past Atlanta goaltender Chris Mason at 10:52.

Suter, who assisted on Erat’s second goal, also had a power-play goal in the second period for the Predators. Erat assisted on the goal by Suter that came at 8:09.

Erat had given Nashville a 1-0 lead at 10:12 of the opening period before Atlanta tied it when Nigel Dawes knocked in a rebound of a shot by Oduya 18 seconds before the end of the period. Oduya also assisted on Eager’s goal.

NOTES: Dawes had 14 goals last season with Calgary. … Nashville beat Atlanta 2-1 Monday night with Eager scoring the Thrashers’ goal.