NASHVILLE – Whether or not the Stars want to embrace the high expectations surrounding this team, they will have to deal with the fact that opponents definitely have.

Dallas walked into a hornets' nest at Sommet Center on Saturday night, as former Stars center Jason Arnott had a goal and two assists to lead a scrappy Nashville team to a 3-1 win.

The loss drops Dallas to 0-1-1 on the young season and sends a quick message. After the loss, several players said the team has to pull together because opponents are circling the date on the calendar when Dallas comes to town.

"We know what people are going to expect, so we've got to bring our A game every night," Stars defenseman Philippe Boucher said. "You can't win them all, but you sure can compete every game."

The Stars didn't look competitive Saturday.

They looked inconsistent, disjointed, squirrelly – pick a word. They struggled to break out of their own zone, allowed Nashville to move freely through the neutral zone, and again had coverage issues on defense.

The Stars were outshot, 32-20, and saw their power play come up empty-handed again. Dallas is 0-for-31 with the man advantage against the Predators over the last two seasons and were 1-for-12 Saturday.

Nashville allowed four power-play goals to St. Louis in a 5-2 loss Friday.

"We've got lots of work to do in all areas," Stars coach Dave Tippett said.

Goalie Marty Turco doesn't feel the answer is more effort; it's coming together as a team.

"We're all fighting to make things right, to make it click, and sometimes we're trying to do too much," he said.

Tippett ran out the same lineups Friday and Saturday, but said he hopes to get a healthy Jere Lehtinen (groin) before Wednesday's home game against Nashville. Tippett said Fabian Brunnstrom will probably make his NHL debut Wednesday.

"We need to find some people who can get the job done," Tippett said.

The Stars coach juggled lines throughout Saturday's game, allowing several wingers a spot in Lehtinen's place on the top line with Brenden Morrow and Mike Ribeiro. Nothing seemed to work.

Tippett said the team can't caught up in the success it had in the playoffs last season.

"This is a new team, we have to forge our own identity. And right now, we're not even close."