The Calgary Flames (21-14-9), one of the NHL’s weakest power play offenses, travel to face the Nashville Predators (19-17-6) and their suffocating penalty killing defense at Bridgestone Arena on Monday. Calgary is playing their last of five games on the road coming off a high-scoring 6-5 win over the Stars on Saturday.
The Flames committed only two penalties in the game, holding Dallas without a power play goal. Six players found the net for the Flames. Dan Vladar allowed five goals on 33 shots against (.848%) in the win. Nashville dropped their third straight game, falling 5-3 to the Sabres on Saturday.
Ryan Johansen, Roman Josi, and Jeremy Lauzon scored one apiece for the Predators. Johansen added an assist to lead the team in scoring. Juuse Saros only had 28 saves on 33 shots against (.848%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Predators won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 4-1 victory in November. Matt Duchene and Filip Forsberg each had two points (1G 1A) to lead Nashville. Blake Coleman scored Calgary’s only goal. Kevin Lankinen got the win, saving 29 of 30 shots (.966%).
FACING OFF
Calgary is averaging 3.14 goals per game for the season, 18th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Predators team that is allowing 2.98 goals a game (15th). Meanwhile, Nashville has found the net 2.76 times a game on average, 27th in the league, and the Flames are allowing opponents to score 2.95 goals per game (14th).
Calgary averages more shots per game (34.8) than most teams in the league, ranking third, though the team’s 9.1% shooting percentage is 26th. Nashville has been up to the task of stopping shots, ranking No. 4 with a team save percentage of .918%.
The Predators’ 29th-ranked power play offense (16.90%) will face a tough test against the Flames, who are the league’s fifth-best penalty killing team (82.80%). Calgary, meanwhile, has scored on 20.00% of their power play opportunities (22nd), which the visitors will be looking to add to against Nashville’s 16th-ranked 79.05% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 40 and 37 points this season, Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli have been the top skaters for the Flames. In the net, Vladar (7-4-4) is Calgary’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.64 GAA and a .910% save percentage.
Jacob Markstrom (13-10-5) leads the Flames in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 2.84 and a save percentage of .893%.Forsberg leads the Predators in scoring with 38 points. He has 18 goals and 20 assists in 42 games. Saros (15-11-5) is the top goalie for Nashville with a goals against average of 2.65. He has a save percentage of .922%.
HOME AND AWAY
Calgary is 9-7-7 on the road this season. Nashville is 9-7-3 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Calgary Flames (-135)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
