Preview: Calgary Flames @ Nashville Predators, 2/27/20 (65/82): Flames Look For Third Straight Win

Calgary Flames @ Nashville Predators, 6:00 PM MT, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville TN

TV: ESPN+, SNW – Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 33-25-6 (72 pts) – Nashville Predators 31-23-8 (70)

NHL Standings

The Flames will take their modest two game winning streak to Nashville Thursday night as they take on the Predators in game three of their five game road trip. Calgary took down the NHL’s best in the Boston Bruins Tuesday night in what was without a doubt their best effort on the season.

The Flames are starting to get contributions from their best players lately and it’s better late than never. Mikael Backlund had a three point night against Boston. Matthew Tkachuk had a three point Tuesday as well and Sean Monahan scored twice against the Bruins. Backlund has been a breath of fresh air as the Flames centre has 15 points in his last 10 games and has been carrying Calgary as of late. The Flames could be in great shape if the aforementioned players continue to stay hot, as well as Johnny Gaudreau, who has a point in 10 of his last 12. Combine that with the Flames potentially getting Mark Giordano back soon and things are looking up.

Nashville is riding their own two game winning streak having dispatched the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators in their last two outings. Nashville’s season, much like the Flames, has been filled with inconsistency. The Predators haven’t been able to put together a win streak of more than four games, which they’ve only done once and there’s been multiple instances of win two, lose two scenarios.

Nashville is in the middle of the pack in GF this season with 195, the problem is they’ve also allowed 195 goals on the season. They are currently 20th in the league is shots against per game at 30.9 and they allow 3.01 goals per game which is 11th worst in the NHL. So, while not seeing a crazy amount of shots per game, they do give up a decent amount of goals per game. In their last 10 losses the Predators have given up 42 goals, an average of 4.2 a game. Not a recipe for success.

These two last met on February 6th with Nashville defeating the Flames 3-2. However, when the season is over, unless something crazy happens, the three match ups between these two will be remembered for Matthew Tkachuk’s between the legs, on the fly, overtime game winner back on October 31st. A win tonight will mean the Flames have taken the season series in three straight years and the odds are in Calgary’s favour as they’ve won four in a row in Nashville and eight out of ten.

Starting Goalies

Flames: Rittich (Expected) 24-15-5, 2.89 GAA, .908 SV%

Predators: Rinne (Expected) 18-13-4, 3.00 GAA, .900 SV%

Team Leaders

Flames – Goals: Lindholm (27), Points: Tkachuk (54), PIM: Tkachuk (70), Save%: Talbot (.914)

Predators – Goals: Forsberg (18), Points: Josi (57), PIM: Watson (65), Save%: Saros (.906)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Nashville Predators Coverage: On The Forecheck

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 5 – Boston Bruins 2

Nashville Predators 3 – Ottawa Senators 2

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Johnny Gaudreau (F): 6 points in last 5 games

Nashville Predators

Filip Forsberg (C): 3 assists in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson