Predators at Flames
The Nashville Predators attempt to complete their four-game Western Canadian trip with a perfect record when they visit the Calgary Flames on Wednesday in the final contest before the All-Star break for both teams. Nashville already has posted victories in Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver, allowing one goal in each triumph after being swept on a four-game trek earlier this month.
Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm is riding a four-game point streak after notching an assist against the Canucks on Tuesday and raising his career-high point total to 21. Calgary returns home from a disappointing 1-3-1 road trip that concluded with Monday's 2-1 loss at Dallas. The trek followed a stretch during which the Flames played eight of nine at home and went 4-4-0 at Scotiabank Saddledome, scoring four or more goals in three of the wins and fewer than two in three of the losses. Calgary took the opener of the three-game season series Dec. 15, posting a 2-1 victory on the road after defenseman Kris Russell scored 1:23 into overtime.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, FSN Tennessee (Nashville), Sportsnet (Calgary)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (23-18-8): James Neal leads the team with 18 goals and is tied with captain Shea Weber for third in points with 30 after netting the winning tally with 4:44 remaining in the third period Tuesday. The 28-year-old Neal is on the verge of reaching the 20-goal plateau in each of his eight NHL seasons. Defenseman Roman Josi is first on the club with 34 points but has recorded only three during his last eight games.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (21-23-3): Johnny Gaudreau is proving to be the real deal after being a finalist for the Calder Trophy last season. The 22-year-old native of New Jersey needs four goals to match his rookie total of 24 and is tied for third in the league with six game-winning tallies. Captain Mark Giordano needs one assist to reach 200 for his career.
OVERTIME
1. Nashville has won three straight contests for the first time since Oct. 17-22.
2. Calgary C Joe Colborne has scored in each of his last two games after going without one for nine contests.
3. Predators G Pekka Rinne has allowed fewer than two goals in three consecutive games for the first time since the first three contests of the season.