Nashville @ Calgary preview
Scotiabank Saddledome
Last Meeting ( Apr 10, 2023 ) Nashville 3, Calgary 2
Snapping a six-game losing streak noticeably lightened the mood around the Calgary Flames.
Now, the goal is to win a second consecutive game for the first time this season when they play host to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.
The Flames return home after Saturday's 6-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken when they twice erased a deficit and broke open the game with four goals in the third period.
"When you're not getting the results, the players feel it, the staff feels it. It's heavy," Flames coach Ryan Huska said after Monday's practice.
"The challenge now is you take the newfound energy and you don't think it's gonna come easy the next game. We have to (play) harder and we have to be smarter than we were in Seattle."
The Flames, who are near the bottom of the league standings, know that just three victories and seven points in 11 games is no way to open a season.
"We've got to keep it going. Keep pushing ourselves," Calgary captain Mikael Backlund said. "You can tell there was more chatter in the room.
"We were trying to keep it positive in here, but when you're losing, it's always a little harder. Today you could tell the guys were upbeat and it's a nice feeling winning again."
Calgary will be without Andrew Mangiapane after he received a one-game suspension. Mangiapane, who leads the club with four goals, was handed the punishment for a cross-check in the first period.
The Flames might receive a boost from forward Adam Ruzicka, who is close to returning from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him the past four games.
The Predators arrive in Calgary after claiming a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday to snap a two-game losing skid. Nashville won three of four before embarking on a five-game road swing that kicked off with losses to the Vancouver Canucks and Kraken.
The Predators also regrouped in their win, scoring within 30 seconds of falling behind 1-0 in the first period before breaking it open with three goals in the second period.
"As a group, when things weren't going well, we kind of stuck with it," said forward Ryan O'Reilly, who collected a hat trick in a four-point outing against the Oilers.
"In the last couple games, we've kind of tried to adjust when things aren't going our way, and we just stuck with it and everyone was a part of it."
The Predators have been inconsistent so far, but their star players are pulling their weight. On top of O'Reilly's heroics, captain Roman Josi is riding a four-game points streak (two goals, three assists), while forward Filip Forsberg netted one goal and two assists Saturday for seven points (one goal, six assists) in a four-game spree.
Nashville coach Andrew Brunette still was happier about his team's defensive effort against the Oilers.
"I like when we put up five (goals), but to only let in two against that group is pretty remarkable," Brunette said.
"I mean, they're probably one of the highest octane offenses in the league with the best player in hockey (Connor McDavid), and I thought we did a good job."
--Field Level Media