5 THINGS - FLAMES @ PREDATORS

FLAMES (1-1-0) at PREDATORS (2-0-0)

US

The Flames kick off a three-game road trip tonight when they visit Nashville in search of their first win away from the Scotiabank Saddledome. The club is coming off a 7-4 victory on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks, and is now 1-1-0 on the year after scoring four unanswered goals in the final 10:33 to claim victory. Elias Lindholm had two goals including the game-winner, while five others had multi-point nights. Matthew Tkachuk led all skaters with four assists, while Johnny Gaudreau and Mark Giordano had three points each to pace the Flames offensively. After failing to score on seven opportunities with the man-advantage in the season-opening loss to the very same Canucks, the Flames' powerplay clicked for three goals on six tries, and had one other called back. … Mike Smith will start in goal, while David Rittich will get the nod on Thursday when the Flames continue their three-game road trip with a stop in St. Louis.

THEM

The 2-0 Predators are returning to Bridgestone Arena for their home-opener after beating the New York Rangers 3-2 on opening night, and following that up with a 4-3 decision over the New York Islanders 48 hours later. The Preds, who owned one of the top home records last year at 28-9-4, are beginning a stretch of four straight on home ice, where they will welcome the Flames, Winnipeg Jets, Islanders and Minnesota Wild over the next week. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Pekka Rinne, looks in fine form once again, allowing only two goals on 36 shots in his lone start so far. Rinne, 35, won 42 games last year and finished with the second-best save percentage of his illustrious NHL career, at .927. Backup goaltender Jusse Sarosgot the nod in their win over the Islanders, making 26 saves in his season debut. … The Predators will be raising the 2017-18 Central Division championship and Presidents' Trophy-winning banners to the rafters at Bridgestone Arena, commemorating their best regular season in franchise history with 53 wins and 117 points.

US VS. THEM

This is the first of three meetings between these two teams, and the only to be played in the Music City this season. The clubs will meet again in Calgary on Oct. 19 before rounding out the season series on Dec. 8. … The Flames won two of three head-to-head matchups last year, including both one-goal decisions at Bridgestone Arena.

THIS, THAT & THE OTHER

THIS: The Flames were dominant on the road last season, going 20-15-6. THAT: James Nealplayed in three seasons for the Nashville Predators from 2014-2017, scoring 77 goals and notching 59 assists for 136 points in 219 games. … THE OTHER: With his career-high four assists on Saturday against the Canucks, Matthew Tkachuk became the youngest player all-time in Flames franchise history to record four assists in one game (20 years, 300 days). Tkachuk also became the second-youngest player in franchise history to record 100 career points.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Flames - Rasmus Andersson
It's been a busy week for the 21-year-old, but after racking up the Air Miles with a quick there-and-back to the Flames' AHL affiliate in Stockton, the blueliner will make his 2018-19 debut. Andersson, who last played on Sept. 29 in Edmonton (a 4-3 pre-season loss to the Oilers), was recalled in the wake of Travis Hamonic's week-to-week injury, but sat out Saturday's contest in favour of veteran rearguard Dalton Prout. Based on the D pairings at Monday's practice, Andersson could slot in alongside fellow rookie Juuso Valimaki, while Prout will be the odd-man out. Andersson had a strong pre-season and was on the cusp of winning a job, but was left off the opening-night roster. "He's going to have to be quicker and noticeably quicker in his decisions and moving the puck, but he's more than capable of doing that," said head coach Bill Peters.
Predators - Viktor Arvidsson
The term 'complete player' is thrown around all too often, but Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson is just that, and then some. On a roster overly stocked with high-end talent, Arvidsson brings an element the reigning Presidents' Trophy and Central Division champs could hardly do without. The 25-year-old is coming off back-to-back 61-point campaigns, and looks to poised to repeat as a 30-plus goal scorer, and possibly push 40 in this, his fourth season. At 5-foot-9 and 180 lb., Arvidsson plays with an edge, has excellent speed, great hands, and works the boards better than any other Preds forward. The winger is off to a great start, scoring twice in Saturday's win over the Islanders, including a highlight-reel marker when he turned Ryan Pulock inside-out with a filthy, between-the-legs toe drag.