Flames at Predators preview

FLAMES (29-20-8) at PREDATORS (34-12-9)
8 p.m. ET; SNW, FS-TN, NHL.TV

Nashville would have 79 points, one more than the Vegas Golden Knights, who host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. The Predators are 5-0-2 in their past seven games and 11-1-3 in their past 15 games
Calgary would move into a tie for second place in the Pacific Division with a win. The third-place Flames are two points behind the San Jose Sharks, who host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
David Rittich will make his second straight start for the Flames who are 4-2-0 in their past six games after going 0-4-2 in their previous six. They are 3-2-0 on a six-game road trip.

Players to watch

Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has 10 points (four goals, six assists) during a seven-game point streak.
Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne is 10-0-1 with a 1.95 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage with two shutouts in his past 11 starts. He has not lost in regulation since a 3-0 loss to the Golden Knights on Jan. 2.

They said it

"We know we're going home tonight but just rally around having a successful trip and making it a 4-2 trip against some pretty good teams. We've got to play the game hard and be here and not worry about going home until after the game." -- Flames defenseman Mark Giordano on closing out the road trip
"January and February is always kind of the grind of the season, but there's so much we play for. We've put ourselves in a great spot in the standings, and everybody in here wants more now. Obviously you always want to climb up. I think if things go well, it's not really a grind. It's more of a grind when things don't go well, so we're having a lot of fun and enjoying playing." -- Predators defenseman Roman Josi

Flames projected lineup

Johnny Gaudreau -- Sean Monahan -- Micheal Ferland
Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Michael Frolik
Sam Bennett -- Mark Jankowski -- Garnet Hathaway
Ryan Lomberg -- Matt Stajan -- Curtis Lazar
Mark Giordano -- Dougie Hamilton
TJ Brodie -- Travis Hamonic
Brett Kulak -- Michael Stone
David Rittich
Jon Gillies
Scratched:Matt Bartkowski, Marek Hrivik
Injured: Kris Versteeg (lower body), Mike Smith (lower body), Troy Brouwer (upper body)

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Craig Smith
Scott Hartnell -- Nick Bonino -- Calle Jarnkrok
Miikka Salomaki -- Colton Sissons -- Austin Watson
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched:Anthony Bitetto, Pontus Aberg, Matt Irwin
Injured: None

Status report

The Flames and Predators each had optional morning skates. ... Mike Fisher, who has yet to sign a contract with the Predators, participated in the skate. There is no timetable for his return.

Stat pack

Gaudreau has 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 11 career games against the Predators. … Forsberg has eight points (six goals, two assists) in 12 career games against the Flames.