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Preview: Calgary Flames @ Nashville Predators 10/24/17 (9/82): Calgary Looks To Stop A 2 Game Skid.

The Predators are showing no signs of slowing down as they welcome the Flames to Nashville tonight.

NHL: Calgary Flames at Nashville Predators Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

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

Where To Watch & Listen

BroadcastSchedule
BroadcastSchedule
TV: SNF
Radio: Sportsnet 960

Well, it was bound to happen. The Flames have hit the skids lately and Mike Smith has looked mortal at times. And that’s not a shot at Smith. There was no way he was going to continue playing at the torrid pace he was on. The problem for Calgary has been if he isn’t playing out of his mind, the team in front on him can’t pick the Flames up. Calgary is struggling to put pucks in the net, having scored 3 goals or more only three times on the young season. The Flames PP unit is in need of a serious boost. The Flames are middle of the pack in the NHL and they are 2-15 over their last 4 games.

The Predators look like the team that went to the Stanley Cup Finals last season. Nashville has won 2 of their last 3 and Pekka Rinne has been lights out in 2017-18. He’s 4-1-1 and after giving up 5 goals in a 6-5 win on October 10th, he’s only given up 4 goals in his last 4 games. Filip Forsberg is off to a strong start leading the Preds in goals (6) and points (11).

Where these two teams are even is on the PK. Calgary and Nashville are both killing penalties at an 80%+ clip. Calgary sits at 4th in the NHL at 86.8% and Nashville isn’t far off in 8th place at 84.2%. This isn’t exactly a good match-up for that struggling Calgary PP. Both teams are even when it comes to their overall record against each other (34-34-2), but the Flames are 4-1-0 in their last 5 trips to the Music City.

Tale Of The Tape

Calgary Flames Stats Nashville Predators
Calgary Flames Stats Nashville Predators
4-4-0 Record 4-3-1
8 Points 9
5th Pacific Division 4th Central
11th West Conference 7th West
2-3-0 Last 5 3-1-1
20 Goals For 21
23 Goals Against 21
Monahan (5) Goals Forsberg (6)
Gaudreau (11) Points Forsberg (11)
Tkachuk (12) PIM McLeod (31)
Smith (.927) Save% Rinne (.932)
18.8 (14th) PP% 22.9 (11th)
86.8 (4th) PK% 84.2 (9th)
1-2-0 2016-17 VS 2-1-0
32-32-4 Overall VS 32-32-4

Starting Goalies (E=Expected, C=Confirmed)

Player Record GAA Save%
Player Record GAA Save%
Flames: Smith (E) 4-4-0 2.58 .927
Predators: Rinne (E) 4-1-1 2.01 .932

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 2 Minnesota Wild 4

The Flames last took to the ice on Saturday night and were dispatched by the Minnesota Wild 4-2. The loss was Calgary’s 3rd in their last four and it continued a string of no offence dating back to their 6-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators. On the positive side T.J. Brodie got 2 assists in the contest, upping his point total to 8 on the season. To add insult to injury the Flames lost Jaromir Jagr to a lower body injury that could keep him out for the rest of this week. Here’s our recap and highlights from NHL.com

Nashville Predators 2 NY Rangers 4

The Preds had a modest 2 game winning streak snapped at the hands of the NY Rangers Saturday night. Pekka Rinne got the night off and his replacement Juuse Saros didn’t fare well. Saros stopped 11 of the 14 shots he faced in only his second start of the season. On The Forecheck has the recap and NHL.com provides the highlights.

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

NHL: Preseason-Calgary Flames at Winnipeg Jets Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Jankowski (C). IF, a big IF, Jankowski sees the ice it will be all eyes on the young Calgary centre. Janko was recalled on Monday after the Flames placed Jaromir Jagr on IR. Jankowski arguably played himself into a spot on the Flames roster in the preseason, but was sent to Stockton instead. In 6 games with the Flames AHL affiliate Jankowski has impressed with 5 goals and 3 assists.

Nashville Predators

NHL: Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

P.K. Subban (D). The Toronto native is off to a hot start with 7 points (1G 6A) in the Predators first 8 games. Always known for his rocket shot and offence, Subban’s point totals were “down” last season as he logged 40 points in 66 games, but he appears to be back on track in 2017-18. Subban has 3 points in his last 5 meetings with the Flames.