Flames at Predators preview

FLAMES (1-1-0) at PREDATORS (2-0-0)
8 p.m. ET; SNF, FS-TN, NHL.TV

The Game

The Nashville Predators will play their first game at home and try to extend their winning streak to three games against the Calgary Flames at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.
The Predators got a 3-2 win against the New York Rangers on Thursday and a 4-3 win against the New York Islanders on Saturday on the road. They will try to match their best start since the 2015-16 season (3-0-0).
Calgary begins a three-game road trip after going 1-1-0 against the Vancouver Canucks to open the season. Goalie Mike Smith is 5-8-2 with a 2.82 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in 15 games against Nashville.

Players to watch

Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk has five points (one goal, four assists) in two games.
Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm has three points (one goal, two assists) in two games.

They said it

"We've got a young group here, but I think a mature group. I think guys are ready to take the next step. They're young guys, but they've played in the League a long time and they're great players. For us, we just want to get off to a good start. I thought we did that in our home opener against Vancouver, and it'll be a great test for us here in [Nashville] tonight." -- Flames forward James Neal
"Just the skater he is, I mean he's so powerful and so fast. That shot is really heavy too. If he's going, he can definitely get a whole line going or a whole team going as well." -- Predators forward Filip Forsberg on Craig Smith

Flames projected lineup

Johnny Gaudreau -- Sean Monahan -- Elias Lindholm
Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Austin Czarnik
Sam Bennett -- Dillon Dube -- James Neal
Michael Frolik -- Derek Ryan - Anthony Peluso
Mark Giordano -- TJ Brodie
Noah Hanifin -- Michael Stone
Juuso Valimaki -- Rasmus Andersson
Mike Smith
David Rittich
Scratched: Mark Jankowski, Garnet Hathaway , Dalton Prout
Injured: Travis Hamonic (facial fracture)

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Craig Smith
Calle Jarnkrok -- Nick Bonino -- Ryan Hartman
Zac Rinaldo -- Colton Sissons -- Frederick Gaudreau
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Anthony Bitetto -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched: Dan Hamhuis, Matt Irwin, Miikka Salomaki
Injured: None
Suspended: Austin Watson

Status report

Dube moved from wing to center on a line with Bennett and Neal. … The Predators held an optional morning skate.

Stat pack

Neal has 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 16 games against the Predators. … Rinne is 7-7-5 with a 2.73 GAA and .905 save percentage in 23 games against the Flames.