Islanders Fall Behind Early and Lose to Predators Sergei Kostitsyn and Matt Halischuk scored on Nashville's first two shots against goalie Kevin Poulin, and the surging Predators rolled to a 3-1 victory over the host Islanders on Monday afternoon. David Legwand also finished a precision three-way passing play to close out the dominating first period for the Predators, who won for the eighth time in nine games and are 14-4 in their past 18. Nashville has 56 points, 4 off N.H.L. lead, but is only fourth in the tough Central Division. The Islanders have not beaten the Predators in regulation since April 11, 2002. They had been 15-1-7 at home in their last 23 games against clubs from the West. "You always want to win your home games," the Islanders" captain, Mark Streit, said. We had a slow start today, and that's kind of an understatement. It cost us the game. We knew that they are a good defensive team. They didn't score a lot of goals in the past, but they scored two quick ones. We played a pretty good 40 minutes after, but it was just too late. Pekka Rinne made 36 saves for his 24th win, second in the NHL. He was denied his fourth shutout of the season when John Tavares extended his career-best point streak to nine games by scoring with 3 minutes 58 seconds remaining. The 21-year-old Poulin stopped 29 shots in just his second start of the season for the Islanders, and first since being recalled Jan. 9. After the loss, the Islanders sent Poulin back to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. COYOTES 6, AVALANCHE 1 Shane Doan and Boyd Gordon scored two goals apiece and Phoenix returned from an 0-3 trip to rout Colorado. CROSBY TO SEE SPECIALIST The Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby will meet with a specialist this week because of lingering concussionlike symptoms. The team said Crosby would work with the chiropractic neurologist Dr. Ted Carrick, who treated Crosby for similar symptoms last summer. SURGERY FOR A CAPITAL Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green will have abdominal surgery and is expected to be sidelined another four to six weeks.