NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Rob Valicevic and the Nashville Predators showed that a year can make a big difference in the NHL.

Valicevic, playing his first full season in the NHL, scored his 10th and 11th goals and had an assist as the second-year Predators beat the expansion Atlanta Thrashers 6-0 on Thursday night.

"It's just the best time in my life right now, to be up here and playing at this level with these guys," the 28-year old center said. "Every day I just look at it as a gift, and I try as hard as I can to never ever take this for granted.

"Working hard is what I try to do every night. There are times you're going to have your bad games, but then the coaches will tell me to start skating and get going."

Valicevic, a former Lake Superior State player, had four goals in 19 games for Nashville last season.

"Rob Valicevic is a strong skater, he's a smart player, he's got a great shot, and he works hard," Nashville captain Tom Fitzgerald said. "He doesn't take for granted where he is because of where he's been."

Cliff Ronning also had two goals and Tomas Vokoun made 25 saves to help the Predators extend their franchise-record unbeaten streak to seven games.

Nashville is 4-0-3 in its last seven, while the expansion Thrashers are 1-9-2 in their last 12. Atlanta has allowed three or more goals in 13 straight games.

"I don't think we're really struggling," Thrashers coach Curt Fraser said. "We're an expansion team. These teams are heads above us. Our work ethic is second to none."

Vokoun earned his second career shutout, the first of the season for Nashville. The Predators scored three goals and outshot the Thrashers 16-4 in the first period.

Valicevic opened the scoring at 8:25, beating goalie Norm Maracle off a rebound. Ronning connected at 18:47 after a spectacular feed from Greg Johnson, who was double-teamed behind the net but still managed to backhand a pass to Ronning.

Valicevic added his second goal 23 seconds later, beating Maracle with a backhand shot.

"Jeez, we've got a lot of weaknesses and unfortunately when we mistakes it just ends up in our net every game," Fraser said.

Tom Fitzgerald had a short-handed goal 44 seconds into the third period, and Ronning and Vitali Yachmenev also scored in the period.

"The Predators are really fast," Atlanta forward Nelson Emerson said. "All their forwards can really skate. They're not that big, but they really use their skating to their advantage."

Vokoun has won three straight games this week after starting the season 0-8-1.

"It's very nice," Vokoun said. "Those three goals early gave us a lot of confidence. It makes you play a little bit of a different game. The shutout is a bonus."