FLAMES FALL PREY TO NASHVILLE

NASHVILLE -- The Calgary Flames couldn't overcome a power outage in the Music City.

Pekka Rinne made 24 saves and Calle Jarnkrok scored to help the Nashville Predators to a 3-1 win against the Flames at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

Dougie Hamilton scored and Chad Johnson made 14 saves for Calgary, who have lost back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 23-24. Calgary also lost 4-2 at the Washington Capitals on Tuesday to open a three-game road trip. Colton Sissons and Ryan Ellis also scored for the Predators.

"There's no cause for worry," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. "You've got to push. It wasn't like today's game we were dominated and we weren't ready to play. We were ready to play. They're a good hockey club.

"The message is going to stay the same. You're going to lose back-to-back games at times. I like our effort. We outchanced them tonight. Our power play needed to get an equalizer for us. In five attempts, we needed to get one there."

The Flames finished 0-for-5 with the man-advantage and have gone 12 straight attempts without scoring.

"We played a good game, made a few mistakes that they capitalized on," captain Mark Giordano said. "But we hit three or four posts. We had a lot of quality chances. Their goalie made some huge saves. We've just got to keep with it, clean up a few areas.

"Other than that, the game was a great game - fast-paced with a lot of energy. Just keep going. You don't want to lose more than one in a row at this time of the year, but we've got to stick with our game plan and get the next one."

Calgary remains in the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference with 86 points, and trails the Edmonton Oilers by three points for third in the Pacific Division.

Jarnkrok opened the scoring 5:02 into the second period when he shot by Johnson's glove from between the hashmarks just five seconds after a power play expired while Sissons made it 2-0 at 7:58 when he converted on a cross-slot pass from Colin Wilson.

Hamilton cut the lead to 2-1 at 10:29 with his 12th goal of the season and ninth point in the past nine games. Hamilton slid down from the point and one-timed a pass by Micheal Ferland by Rinne.

Ellis restored the two-goal lead with a shot from the high slot eight minutes into the third period after multiple failed clearing attempts from the Flames.

Calgary couldn't score with Johnson on the bench for the extra attacker late in the third.

"That's a good team over there, too," Giordano said. "You have to give them credit. Their goalie played well, made a lot of saves. Both teams were back and forth. We've got to clean it up a bit. We've got to hope for some better puck luck, I think, some of those posts.

"You can't get down. It's not the time of year to let two turn into three or more. We've got to get one back next game and move on from there."

NOTES: Ferland returned to the team after he was held under observation for the mumps. Giordano, Michael Stone and Deryk Engellandeach finished with three blocked shots. Giordano and Stone also had two hits each. Matthew Tkachuk served the second of his two-game suspension for elbowing Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty on March 19. Forwards Curtis Lazar and Garnet Hathaway and defencemen Dennis Wideman and Rasmus Andersson were scratched for Calgary.

UP NEXT:The Flames continue with the finale of a three-game road trip at the St. Louis Blues on Saturday (5 p.m. MT; CITY, SN960).

(With files from Ty Pilson)