DETROIT (AP) – Henrik Zetterberg broke a tie at 6:54 of the third period and added an empty-net goal, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night in the postseason opener for both teams.

Dominik Hasek, playing in his 116th playoff game, made 19 saves for the top-seeded Wings and Dan Ellis stopped 37 shots for the Predators before being pulled with just over a minute left.

Detroit’s Johan Franzen scored in the first period and Nashville’s Jordin Tootoo tied it late in the second.

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Saturday in Detroit.

A couple minutes after Nashville’s Vernon Fiddler hit a post on a shot in the third period, the Red Wings’ 90-point stars combined to break a tie and energize Joe Louis Arena.

Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk prevented Shea Weber from clearing the puck to set up the tiebreaking goal. Then, Datsyuk made a cross-ice pass from the left circle to perfectly set up Zetterberg’s one-timer that hit the back of the net before Ellis could slide over or get his glove on it.

Ellis kept the Predators in the game, though, by making 26 saves entering the final period with the score tied 1-all.

After Radek Bonk got out of the penalty box, a loose puck went off his stick directly to Franzen in front of the net at 5:58 of the first period.

Tootoo scored on a deflected shot with 2:13 left in the second.

The Red Wings, who led the NHL in points for the third time in four seasons, desperately wanted to get off to a good start in the series after losing as a top-seeded team just two years ago.

They have won the President’s Trophy six times – three times more than any other franchise – since 1995, but have followed up with a Stanley Cup only once.

Nashville, meanwhile, accomplished something by just getting into the playoffs after the roster was trimmed following uncertainty about the franchise’s future. The Predators went 5-0-1 to secure the last spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Notes: Detroit’s Chris Chelios tied Patrick Roy’s record by playing in his 247th playoff game and the 46-year-old defenseman extended his mark with 23 postseason appearances – two more than Ray Bourque and three more than a pack of five players, including Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman. … Nashville F Scott Nichol injured his left arm. … Detroit D Nicklas Lidstrom set a Red Wings record by playing in his 16th straight postseason, one more than Yzerman. … Nashville F David Legwand (foot) and Detroit F Kirk Maltby (hamstring) were scratches. … Detroit F Darren McCarty, who climbed his way back into the NHL, was in the lineup along with D Brad Stuart (finger) and F Mikael Samuelsson (groin) after both missed several games with injuries. … The Red Wings are in the playoffs for a 17th straight season, the longest active streak in major pro sports. … Since 1991, the Red Wings have played 200 playoff games – giving them a double-digit lead over the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. … Detroit coach Mike Babcock has won an NHL-high 28 playoff games since 2003, one more than Tampa Bay’s John Tortorella.

AP-ES-04-10-08 2148EDT