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FLAMES (33-25-6) at PREDATORS (31-23-8)
8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SNW, FS-TN, NHL.TV

The reigning Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's best defenseman has missed Calgary's past 10 games since injuring his hamstring against the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 4. He was a game-time decision Tuesday but wound up sitting out the Flames' 5-2 win at the Boston Bruins. Calgary has won its past two games and is 6-3-0 in its past nine.
Nashville is 5-1-1 in its past seven games and is two points behind the Flames for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.

Players to watch

Flames forward Mikael Backlund has four goals and three assists during a four-game point streak.
Predators forward Mikael Granlund has nine points (five goals, four assists) in his past 11 games.

They said it

"This is the game we're focusing on. Nothing is changing for us. It's been the same since November. We're looking at the next game and today it's here, it's Nashville. We understand the game is big, but we've just got to come out and play our game." -- Calgary coach Geoff Ward
"We've worked hard the last month or so to really put us in this position, and now we're trying to just hold on to the spot that we're in right now. It's an opponent that's a couple points ahead of us. So it's a big game, and that's all you can ask for." -- Nashville defenseman Mattias Ekholm

Flames projected lineup
Predators projected lineup
Status report

Giordano participated on the second power-play unit at Calgary's morning skate. … The Predators held an optional morning skate.

Stat pack

Gaudreau has 23 points (three goals, 20 assists) in 17 games against the Predators. … Josi has 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 25 games against the Flames.