At the Rink: Flames at Predators

NASHVILLE – The Calgary Flames are riding a five-game winning streak and begin a four-game road trip against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.

The Flames won all five games on their recent homestand and scored four or more goals in each game. They're looking to take that momentum and translate it to success on the road.

"I thought we played as a five-man unit," Flames captain Mark Giordano said. "We were moving the puck better and playing better through the neutral zone, making more plays. I think we have to take that [on the road]. Coming on the road, it's a different game. You sort of have to grind it out sometimes. I think the No. 1 thing on the road is defense."

Calgary won all three games against Nashville last season, two at Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators are searching for more consistency in their game. They defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 last Thursday but followed it up with a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. The Predators want be prepared every game to play a winning brand of hockey.

"It's easy to come home and play against the defending Stanley Cup champions and have your highest level and be prepared to play in that type of game, especially after you play well and they beat you in their building," Predators forward Eric Nystrom said. "Then a Colorado team comes in and we think we're just going to lace up our skates and beat them, and they come in and school us in our own building.

"This League is too good to do that. You have to be prepared every single night to be the best player you can be, and the best team that you can be, and we haven't done that this season."

Here are the projected lineups:

FLAMES

Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – David Jones

Sam Bennett – Markus Granlund – Jiri Hudler

Mason Raymond – Mikael Backlund – Michael Frolik

Micheal Ferland – Matt Stajan – Joe Colborne

Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie

Kris Russell – Dougie Hamilton

Deryk Engelland – Dennis Wideman

Karri Ramo

Jonas Hiller

Scratched: Brandon Bollig, Josh Jooris, Jakub Nakladal, Ladislav Smid

Injured: Lance Bouma (leg), Jon Gilles (hip)

PREDATORS

Filip Forsberg – Calle Jarnkrok – James Neal

Viktor Arvidsson – Mike Ribeiro – Craig Smith

Cody Hodgson – Colton Sissons – Austin Watson

Eric Nystrom – Paul Gaustad – Miikka Salomaki

Roman Josi – Shea Weber

Mattias Ekholm – Ryan Ellis

Barret Jackman – Seth Jones

Pekka Rinne

Carter Hutton

Scratched: Anthony Bitetto

Injured: Mike Fisher (lower body), Colin Wilson (lower body), Gabriel Bourque (upper body)

Status report: Each held an optional morning skate. … Ramo will start for the Flames. … Rinne is expected to start for the Predators. … Fisher has returned to the ice but isn't expected to play this week.

Who's hot: Gaudreau has seven goals in his past five games and leads the Flames with 31 points. … Smith has two goals in his past two games.