The Calgary Flames and their five-game winning streak will be put to the test tonight as they're in Music City to take on the Nashville Predators.
The Preds haven't played their best hockey of late - they have just four wins in their last 10 games - but at 9-4-2 they have one of the best home records in the league and certainly won't be pushovers.
This will be a tough test for a Flames team that has won only three of 14 road games thus far but a win tonight would be huge.
Obviously it's still early in the season but, despite the team's horrid start, with a win tonight and some help (a San Jose loss to Montreal + Vancouver loss to Minnesota) the Flames would sit in a tie for 2nd in the Pacific Division.
Again, it's still very early but I think a win would signify that the Flames truly are in the thick of things and that their aspirations of replicating last season's success - if not going further - are still very real.
LINEUPS Gaudreau - Monahan - Jones Bennett - Granlund - Hudler Raymond - Backlund - Frolik Ferland - Stajan - Colborne
Giordano - Brodie Wideman - Hamilton Smid - Engelland
Ramo
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Forsberg - Jarnkrok - Neal Arvidsson - Ribeiro - Smith Hodgson - Sissions - Watson Nystrom - Gausted - Salomaki
Josi - Weber Jackman - Jones Ekholm - Ellis
Rinne
GAME NOTES 1) Nashville's blue line is as mobile as they come and is loaded with excellent puck movers. That makes it easy for them to dissect teams and start up a quick transition game. Calgary's forwards need to make sure they remain positionally sound and don't overcommit and open lanes for the Preds.
2) A comprehensive list of teams averaging more shots per game than Nashville: Los Angeles, Dallas.
Karri Ramo will see no shortage of rubber tonight so he'll have to be on his game for the Flames to have a chance.
3) Johnny Gaudreau has six goals, nine points in his last four games and is now a top-10 scorer in the NHL. Can he stay hot against one of the best blue lines in the NHL?
The game is at 8 eastern and can be seen on Sportsnet-Flames and FS-TN.
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