DALLAS — It's not how you start, it's how you finish, the old saying goes.

But the Predators' historic start to this season could have a huge impact on how they finish.

The numbers don't lie: The Predators are 12-3, the best beginning to a season in franchise history. They have won four games in a row and have proven they can have fun at the same time.

The team is on its second-longest road trip of the season — 10 nights, five games, three time zones — and has shown no signs of slowing going into its game Saturday afternoon against the Stars.

Here's a look at some of those numbers:

What P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, others have done

12-3-0

Predators' record is the best start in franchise history.

Pred said:"We never expect to lose. There's a winner’s mentality in here. It doesn’t matter if we’re at home or on the road." — defenseman Mattias Ekholm.

7-0-0

Best start to a season on the road in franchise history.

4-0-0

Record in the last four games. All four have come against teams that made the playoffs last season.

13-3

Combined score of those four victories.

Pred said: "We haven't talked about it too much. ... We don't get too hung up on ... the city we're playing in. It's hard to win on the road. Our group has done a pretty good job of focusing on the game and not necessarily the location." — coach Peter Laviolette

97-66-19

Combined records of Predators' opponents. Only one— Vegas — had a below-.500 record (7-8-1) going into Friday.

20

Goals by which the Predators have outscored opponents, first in the NHL after Thursday's games. The Lightning were second at plus-17.

43

Points scored by Predators defensemen (10 goals, 33 assists). Roman Josi leads the group with four goals, while P.K. Subban has nine assists. The team led the NHL in goals (55) and points (206) by defensemen last season, both franchise records. They are on pace for 235 points this season.

41

Points scored by the team's top line of Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson, the latter of which has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury. The trio has combined for 20 goals and 21 assists.

What Pekka Rinne, Juuse Saros have done

2.07

Goals per game allowed by the Predators, best in the NHL going into Friday. They've allowed 31.

.949

Save percentage for Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, best in the league. The 36-year-old reigning Vezina Trophy winner has stopped 223 of the 235 shots he's faced.

1.55

Goals-against average for Rinne, also best in the league by almost a half-goal. His two shutouts are tied for most this season.

2

Victories away Rinne is from tying Miikka Kiprusoff (319) for most wins by a Finnish-born goalie in NHL history.

Pred said: "I feel like I'm playing my best hockey." — Rinne.

Pred said, too: "He has been and continues to be the backbone of this organization. Probably the guy who's had the biggest impact on this organization. He’s happy. We’re happy. — Laviolette.

What Predators could to better

13

That's the team's power-play success, percentage-wise, second-worst in the NHL and ahead of only the Blue Jackets.

7

Power-play goals in 54 chances for the Predators, tied for the fewest in the league.

Pred said: "There’s been a lot of chances. If there was no chances and no looks, that’s when you get concerned. It’s always a work in progress." — Laviolette.

77.5

Predators' penalty-kill percentage, tied for 18th in the NHL.

Reach Paul Skrbina at pskrbina@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @PaulSkrbina.

More:Upon further review, Predators, video coaches up to challenges in victory against Avalanche

More:Predators mailbag: Wagers, trades, underrated players and more