NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Randy McKay didn't take long to make his 700th NHL game special.

McKay scored his 125th career goal just 19 seconds in Tuesday night as New Jersey beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 in the first game of the Devils' seven-game road trip.

"Randy came into the NHL as a fighter," New Jersey coach Robbie Ftorek said. "He worked very, very hard to get his skills honed, and has done a real good job of becoming a goal scorer and going to the front of the net. Randy's had a really nice career."

New Jersey never trailed, and the quick start took the vocal Nashville fans out of the game. The crowd booed the Predators in the second period, a rarity in Music City.

"We got off to an early jump and we had a lot of excitement," McKay said.

Martin Brodeur made 35 saves to earn his 36th victory.

The win was the second straight for New Jersey, which had gone 0-4-1 the previous five games. Nashville has dropped eight of 10.

McKay scored after backing into former Devils goalie Mike Dunham, putting him off-balance near the left post. McKay then skated to the right side and tipped in a shot by rookie defenseman Brian Rafalski before Dunham could scramble back into position. Dunham unsuccessfully argued that he had been interfered with.

Rafalski set up the second goal as well, collecting the rebound of his own shot off the rear boards and spotting a wide-open John Madden in front 6:26 into the second period.

Madden was awarded a penalty shot just 37 seconds later after Predators defenseman Kimmo Timonen hauled him down on a breakaway. He sent the attempt into Dunham's pads.

"I just wanted to get him moving a little bit side-to-side," Madden said. "I may have telegraphed my shot a little bit, but it was my first NHL penalty shot so I was a little nervous."

New Jersey's three prized rookies -- Madden, Rafalski and center Scott Gomez -- have combined for 31 goals and 104 points.

"As we come down the stretch it gets even more exciting, because there's a bunch of guys in this room that won the Stanley Cup," said Madden, who never played more than four NHL games in a season until this year.

Nashville's Vitali Yachmenev scored with 7:38 left in the third, putting a backhander by Brodeur from in close. Defenseman Ken Daneyko blocked one of the Predators' few good chances with Dunham pulled in the closing minute.

"We played a real solid game against a pretty good hockey club," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "The silver lining is that we're making progress defensively but we're not getting the wins to show for it."