Preview: Calgary Flames @ Nashville Predators, 10/9/18 (3/82): Can The Power Play Keep It Up?

Calgary Flames @ Nashville Predators, 6 PM MT, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville TN

Calgary Flames 1-1-0 (2 points) – Nashville Predators 2-0-0 (4 points)

After a brief trip home, the Flames will hit the road to Nashville to tangle with the 2-0-0 Nashville Predators. Calgary just got their first win of the season on Saturday night with a 7-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. The Flames PP showed up in the Saturday night contest, going 3 for 6 and it could have been ever better. The Flames put relentless pressure on the Canucks with the man advantage and if not for an overturned goal and a goal just as the PP expired, Calgary’s PP would have fared even better.

While the PP has shown life, the goaltending has been shaky in the Flames first two games. Mike Smith has gotten the start in both and given up 8 goals total in his 2 starts. In the season opener in Vancouver he wasn’t totally to blame (could be argued he kept the Flames in the game), but it hasn’t been smooth sailing so far for the NHL veteran and it won’t get any easier with Nashville.

The Predators are off to a 2-0-0 start having taken down the Rangers and the Islanders to start the season. Nashville is always a tough draw due to their stellar netminder Pekka Rinne, though he’s struggled against the Flames in his last 10 starts. The Finland native has dropped 6 of his last 10 starts against Calgary, including a split with the Flames last season. As always the Flames will need to pay attention to P.K. Subban as he leads the Preds in points with 3 (1G 2A) on the young season.

While we are only 2 games into the season for most teams, the Predators PK is at 80% and this will be a good test for the Flames. Calgary’s noted struggles with the man advantage will be tested tonight and we will see which Flames PP unit is the real deal: the 0-7 or the 3-6. The Flames are currently 13th in the NHL on the PP at 23%.

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Nashville Predators Coverage: On The Forecheck

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 7 Vancouver Canucks 4 (Recap)

Nashville Predators 4 NY Islanders 3 (Recap)

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames: Elias Lindholm (F)

Elias Lindholm has certainly made himself comfortable in Calgary so far this season. The big piece in the draft day trade has 3 points, including 2 goals and an assist. He looks to be settling in on the top line with Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau and that should make the Flames a much tougher team to play against this season.

Nashville Predators: Viktor Arvidsson (F)

Arvidsson exploded for 2 goals against the Islanders on Saturday on only 2 shots. He came up empty in the season opener at MSG, but the two goal outburst should be a good confidence builder for the native of Sweden. Arvidsson will look to improve upon his back to back 61 point seasons in 2018-19.

by Mark Parkinson