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Instant Reaction: Flames devoured by Predators in road trip finale
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Photo credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Ryan Pike
Dec 2, 2025, 22:42 EST
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Welcome to Instant Reaction, where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Calgary Flames game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below! 
The Calgary Flames went into scenic Nashville, Tennessee looking to close out their road trip on a positive note against the Predators.
Well, that did not happen.
The Flames were the better team through the first half of the game, and then the wheels fell off and the Predators pounced. The Flames distinctly lacked pep in their collective step en route to a 5-1 loss to Nashville.

The rundown

The Predators got on the board a few minutes into the opening period. 6:24 in, Reid Schaefer jammed in the rebound after Devin Cooley made the initial stop on a shot by Fedor Svechkov. That gave Nashville a 1-0 lead.
The teams exchanged power plays later in the first period, but neither team generated any great chances. The Flames had some odd-man rushes during the period, but couldn’t capitalize on those opportunities.
First period shots were 10-9 Flames. Via Natural Stat Trick, 5v5 scoring chances were 7-3 Flames and high-danger scoring chances were 4-1 Flames.
Five minutes into the second period, Nashville doubled their lead. Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Evangelista went in on an odd-man rush. Evangelista received a pass but, recognizing that Devin Cooley was sliding to his left – away from the front of the net – Evangelista held onto the puck, swung around behind the net and passed to the late-coming Steven Stamkos for a tap-in on an empty-net to give Nashville a 2-0 edge.
The Predators got some offensive zone time and Dryden Hunt lost his stick while trying to defend. That gave Nashville a bit of extra room to maneuver, and Jonathan Marchessault’s shot through traffic from the point hit paydirt behind Cooley to give Nashville a 3-0 lead.
The Predators made it 4-0 slightly later, as Michael Bunting flung the puck towards the net-front area and Ozzy Weisblatt got his stick on it, deflecting it past Cooley in-close.
Second period shots were 10-7 Flames. 5v5 scoring chances were 6-6 and high-danger scoring chances were 2-1 Predators.
Dustin Wolf came into the game in relief of Cooley for the third period and Flames bench boss Ryan Huska turned on the line blender.
John Beecher blocked a shot and the puck ricocheted right to Michael Bunting for a no-doubter to make it 5-0 Predators.
Morgan Frost spoiled Juuse Saros’ shutout bid with a power play goal midway through the third period to cut the deficit to 5-1.
But that’s as close as the Flames got.

Why the Flames lost

For the first half of this game, they couldn’t get their offence going. For the second half of this game, they couldn’t get much of anything going. And unfortunately for them, this was a rare occasion where they goaltenders – either of them – was unable to bail them out. They had the looks of a team whose gas tank had hit empty.
Burn the tape.

Red Warrior

Blake Coleman had a team-high five shots, a fight, and was somehow even in a game where the Flames were out-scored 5-0 at even strength.

Turning point

Nashville scored twice in a 67-span in the second period, turning a 2-0 game into a 4-0 game and really taking the wind out of the Flames’ sails.

This and that

Reid Schaefer’s first period goal was his first NHL goal. He fought Brayden Pachal in the second period and finished the evening an assist shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick.
Ozzy Weisblatt’s second period goal was his first NHL goal. He fought Blake Coleman in the third period and also finished the evening an assist shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick.
Third period lines for the Flames ended up roughly like this:
  • Jonathan Huberdeau – Morgan Frost – Blake Coleman
  • Yegor Sharangovich – Nazem Kadri – Adam Klapka
  • Dryden Hunt – Mikael Backlund – Matt Coronato
  • Connor Zary – John Beecher – Joel Farabee

After Burner

Join Mike Gould and myself right after the game for After Burner!

Up next

The Flames (9-15-4) are headed home. They’ll host the Minnesota Wild at the Saddledome on Thursday night.

This article is brought to you by Platinum Mitsubishi

This article is a Presentation of Platinum Mitsubishi, family owned and operated by lifelong Calgarians. Home of the best warranty in the business with ten year warranties available. Check out the showroom at 2720 Barlow Trail NE or online at www.mitsu.ca

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