Game Day: Flames vs. Preds Preview

The Nashville Predators will close out their season-long five-game homestand this evening with a matchup against the Calgary Flames. The Flames currently sit atop the Pacific Division and could be a potential First Round matchup for the Preds in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is the second of three meetings between Nashville and Calgary this season; it's the first of two at home with another set to take place next Tuesday.
Sunday's outing against the St. Louis Blues - an 8-3 loss - did not go Nashville's way, but the Preds sought out some positives to build on for tonight's game versus the Flames. Getting back to their identity tonight will be key for the Predators as they look for two more crucial points in the standings down this final stretch in the regular season.

"It got away from us in the second period," Preds forward Nick Cousins said after Nashville surrendered seven goals in the second period. "They're a really good team off the rush, and I think we gifted them a couple goals. They converted on their chances, and it could have been 2-0 or 3-0 [in our favor] after the first, and then obviously, they got [seven] goals in the second. We won the third period, but at the end of the day, you just flush and move on and get ready for Calgary."
"It's disappointing right now," Preds Captain Roman Josi said following Sunday's game. "We'll be disappointed tonight. But, it's a playoff mentality right now. Tomorrow, we have to look forward. We've definitely got to correct things. It's been two out of the [last] three games that we didn't play well. There's a lot of things we have to look at and do better, and the next game is huge. That's how it's going to be for the rest of the regular season. You can be disappointed right now, but once tomorrow and Tuesday comes, we have to get ready for a big game."
The Preds announced Sunday that defenseman Jeremy Lauzon is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Matt Benning entered the lineup on Sunday in Lauzon's place. Forward Michael McCarron (week-to-week) has resumed skating with the team, but he missed Sunday's game due to injury. Defensemen Ben Harpur and Jeremy Davies, as well as forward Matt Luff (non-COVID illness) were scratched.
The Preds did not practice Monday but are expected to hold a morning skate prior to tonight's matchup versus the Flames.

The Good Guys:

Three separate Preds found the back of the net Sunday evening as Cousins, Luke Kunin and Dante Fabbro each tallied. Goaltender Juuse Saros got the start, but was pulled midway through the second period after the Blues scored their fourth goal of the contest and was credited with the loss. Netminder David Rittich took his place and made nine of 13 saves to close out regulation.
Josi leads NHL defensemen and is tied for 12th in the NHL in points this season with 88 (20g-68a). With his three-point effort on April 7 at Ottawa, he broke the franchise record for points in a season, previously held by Paul Kariya in 2005-06 (85).
Josi still tops the Preds in points as well, and he's followed by Matt Duchene with 77 (39g-38a) and Filip Forsberg with 75 (38g-37a). Ryan Johansen has 58 points (23g-35a), Mikael Granlund has 55 (10g-45a) and Tanner Jeannot has 41 (24g-17a). Saros is now 37-24-3 in net; Rittich is 5-3-2.

The Opposition:

The Flames have won seven of their last eight games, including a 5-2 victory in Chicago last night. Johnny Gaudreau leads his club - and is third in the NHL - in points with 107 (38g-69a), followed by Matthew Tkachuk with 98 (39g-59a) and Elias Lindholm with 78 (39g-39a). Goaltender Jacob Markstrom played last night and is 36-15-8 in net; netminder Dan Vladar is 11-5-1.

All-Time Meetings:

Nashville is 1-0-0 against Calgary in 2021-22, earning a 3-2 OT win on the road on Nov. 2. The Predators are 3-1-1 in their last five games vs. the Flames; they are 5-3-2 in their last 10; and 1-2-2 in their last five at Bridgestone Arena.
The Predators have only lost three times in regulation to the Flames since Dec. 15, 2015 (8-3-5) and have picked up at least one point in 22 of their last 29 games (15-7-7). The Predators are 37-25-(4)-12 all-time against the Flames, including a 20-12-(1)-7 record at Bridgestone Arena.

Notables Versus Calgary:

Josi has three goals and 17 assists in 27 career games vs. Calgary. Johansen has six points (3g-3a) in his last 10 meetings with the Flames, and 12 points (5g-7a) in 25 career games against Calgary. Kunin owns six points (2g-4a) in seven career games against Calgary.
Saros is 5-1-1 with a .921 save percentage in seven career games vs. the Flames. Rittich went 63-39-15 in 130 appearances with Calgary from 2017-21. He also represented the Flames in the 2020 NHL All-Star Game.
Predators broadcaster Terry Crisp, who is celebrating his final season covering the team on Bally Sports South, won the 1989 Stanley Cup as head coach of the Flames.

Watch & Listen:

Coverage for tonight's 7 p.m. CT puck drop from Nashville begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Predators Live! pregame show on Bally Sports South hosted by Lyndsay Rowley and Terry Crisp. Willy Daunic, Chris Mason and Kara Hammer have the call on the television side, while Pete Weber and Hal Gill will broadcast on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network. Pregame coverage on the radio begins at 6 p.m. with Darren McFarland. Tonight's game will also be broadcasted on El Jefe presented by Don Beto powered by ETHNIX GROUP and will be carried on 96.7 FM, 105.3 FM and 810 AM.