Hutton helps Predators top Flames, win fourth in row

CALGARY -- The Nashville Predators will take their first four-game winning streak of the season into the All-Star break.
Shea Weber scored the game-winner, and Carter Hutton made 26 saves to help Nashville to a 2-1 victory against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday.

The Predators were 2-5-1 to begin January.
"We battled hard. It's been a tough month for us," Weber said. "We're battling our way back into the playoff picture here. The last four games have really helped."
Mike Ribeiro scored for Nashville (24-18-8), which will host the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Bridgestone Arena on Sunday (5 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA Sports, SN) after sweeping its four-game Canadian road trip.
"We talked about finishing off a tough West swing," Weber said. "It's not easy to come out here to beat these teams in their own buildings. Trying to keep our mind on the games, too, is a big thing with the All-Star break. Minds might tend to wander, but I think everybody in here did a good job of staying focused. The games speak for themselves."
Weber, fellow defenseman Roman Josi and goaltender Pekka Rinne will represent the Predators on the Central Division All-Star Team.
"It's going to be pretty special, obviously," Weber said. "I'm very honored to go to another All-Star Game, but to have it in Nashville, to have it in front of our fans and with a couple teammates as well. It's going to be very special."
Mark Giordano scored for the Flames (21-24-3), who lost the first of a three-game homestand split around the break after going 1-3-1 on a five-game road trip.
"I think physically we're OK, but mentally, get away from the rink, spend time with family and stuff like that, and come back and every night, we're going to have to treat every game like a must-win," Giordano said. "There's no sugar-coating it right now. We know how far back we are. We just have to get a few in a row. Our overall game isn't that bad. We're losing close games, but the main issue with our team right now is our starts, for sure."
Giordano and forward Johnny Gaudreau will represent Calgary on the Pacific Division All-Star Team.
Ribeiro opened the scoring in the first period. After gaining the zone off the rush, Craig Smith passed off to Ribeiro in the slot, and he beat Flames goaltender Karri Ramo with a shot under the arm at 6:21.

The goal came on Nashville's fifth shot of the game and before Calgary's first shot on Hutton, a chance in tight from Lance Bouma at 8:35.
"We've got to get out of this rut," Giordano said. "We've got to come out of the gates and get the lead; that's what our mindset has to be after this break."
Calgary couldn't score on power plays after the Predators were called for a faceoff violation and a delay of game penalty in the first period. Nashville forward James Neal was whistled for closing his hand on the puck at 19:17 of the first, but Calgary couldn't convert on that man-advantage opportunity either.
"We had three power plays in the first and we couldn't find the net again," Gaudreau said. "We have to find the net on power plays and we've got to have better starts."
The Predators doubled their lead on a power play with 2:23 remaining in the second period. Weber one-timed a pass from the top of the circle following a set-up from Josi and Ryan Johansen to put the Predators up 2-0.
"A great play by Johansen there getting it behind the back to [Josi], and [Josi] just set it right where I needed to hit it," Weber said. "I made a good shot."
Giordano cut the Predators lead to one at 5:48 of the third period. Weber blocked his initial shot, but Giordano corralled the puck and circled back to the high slot before beating Hutton with a slap shot.
The goal ended Hutton's shutout streak at 106:02.

Flames forward Sam Bennett hit the post with a backhand shot at 11:20, and Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis dove to swat away a backdoor pass from Gaudreau to Sean Monahan with a little more than five minutes remaining.
With Johansen in the penalty box and Ramo on the bench for the extra attacker, Hutton made saves on Bennett's redirect of Giordano's point shot and Jiri Hudler's rebound attempt with 42.6 seconds remaining. He also made saves against Bennett in a crease scramble with 10.2 seconds left and on Dougie Hamilton's one-timer with 2.1 seconds remaining to preserve the win.
"We knew they were going to come," Hutton said. "They're too good not to. I thought we did a great job. At the end, we had a couple key blocks and we eliminated second chances. From there, we were able to hang on. It wasn't the prettiest finish, but it was back-to-back and the end of a road trip. It was a huge two points any way we look at it."