Power Outage: Flames Fall to Predators

Calgary and Nashville met for the third and final time this season with both teams having split the previous meetings. The teams last met in February in what became the first of the Flames 10 game win streak. Calgary won the game 6-5 in OT.

Chad Johnson got the start for the Flames in net, looking to make up for the stinker he had last week against Boston. Micheal Ferland also returned to the lineup after missing two games from an illness.

1st Period

The opening period was pretty entertaining as the game opened up but both goaltenders were up to the task.

Calgary would have two powerplay opportunities but fail to generate much of anything which would become a running theme on the evening.

The Flames would also hit three posts in the period including Dougie Hamilton hitting two.

Mere inches separate the Flames from the lead but the opening period finished with no score. Shots were 9-7 for Calgary.

2nd Period

Freddie Hamilton (who was still in the lineup for some reason) would get a roughing penalty early in the period which was a poor decision.

The Flames would manage to kill it off but mere seconds after the penalty expired, Calle Jarnkrok would capitalize on a blown coverage and beat Johnson from the slot. 1-0 Predators.

Nashville would make it 2-0 three minutes later when the Flames failed to clear the puck and Colton Sissons would finish the Predators attack.

Calgary would get back to within one shortly after when Ferland beautifully set up Dougie Hamilton who would finally get his goal after a couple posts.

Calgary would pour it on the rest of the period, registering 16 straight shot attempts over a 14 minute span that stretched into the third period.

After two periods it was 2-1 for Nashville but the Flames were pressing hard.

3rd Period

The Flames would carryover a powerplay to the third period and promptly get shut down again.

Nashville would then fall into a defensive shell and limit any real good opportunities for the Flames .

Nashville would then get up 3-1 after the Flames had possession of the puck four separate times but were unable to clear the zone. It was a particularly bad shift for Matt Bartkowski with two bad turnovers and then screening Johnson on the goal.

Calgary would pull the goalie late but not even get a decent chance as the Predators just shut things right down.

Nashville wins 3-1.

The Good

The Bad

The Ugly

Calgary heads to St. Louis on Saturday to take on the Blues. At time of writing, the Preds are one point behind the Flames with one game in hand. The Flames are one point behind the Oilers (currently tied with Colorado) and three points behind the Ducks who have a game in hand.

On to the next one I guess.

by Michael MacGillivray