Post-Game: Flames tame Predators

The Calgary Flames were a strong road team in 2017-18. They seem poised to continue that trend, as they kicked off their first major road trip of the season with a 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.

The Flames opened the scoring late in the first period on the power play. Instead of fussing about zone entries, Johnny Gaudreau danced around Colton Sissons and lured Anthony Bitetto over to him as he approached the net. That opened up Elias Lindholm for a pass and a nice wrist shot that beat Pekka Rinne to make it 1-0.

Shots were 8-7 Flames, while scoring chances were 6-4 Flames.

Calgary doubled their lead in the second, again on the power play. And it came on a weird sequence. Sam Bennett knocked in a Sean Monahan rebound, but the play was whistled down because Nashville had too many men. Everyone was confused, but on the ensuing power play the Flames scored off another nice zone entry. Gaudreau entered the offensive zone with speed, passed the puck off to Matthew Tkachuk and his rebound went right to Monahan for the tap-in. That made it 2-0 Flames.

Tkachuk and Michael Stone were both called for tripping at the same time, but the Flames killed off the full two minute five-on-three situation. Shots were 21-9 Predators and chances were 13-4 Predators.

Monahan added his second of the game early in the third period on a three-on-one rush. Mattias Ekholm attempted to defend the rush, but his sliding block deflected the puck past Rinne to make it 3-0.

Shots were 15-10 Predators and chances were 12-5 Predators.

The Flames won the special teams battle 2-0, which is always a recipe for success. But this was also easily the best goaltending performance they’ve received so far this season. If you have good goaltending and good special teams, you can usually win.

And if you don’t, you’re probably doing something wrong.

Mike Smith made 43 saves. He was excellent. Honourable mentions to Monahan and Gaudreau, who combined for five points.

The successful kill on Nashville’s five-on-three was huge. The Flames were up 2-0 and a bad bounce could’ve eaten into their lead and killed their confidence. But everyone involved was keyed in and so it ended up deflating Nashvillle instead.

The two goals from the first power play unit gives them five goals in the last two games.

Austin Czarnik didn’t score, but his line continued to generate scoring chances.

The Flames (2-1-0) continue their trek through the Central Division. They visit the Enterprise Center to face the St. Louis Blues on Thursday evening.