Predators 2, Flames 1
CALGARY, Alberta -- Goals by center Mike Ribeiro and defenseman Shea Weber lifted Nashville Predators to a 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
The Predators take a four-game winning streak into the NHL all-star game break. They are hosting this year's festivities.
The Predators (24-18-8) went perfect on a four-game road trip and are tied for fifth in the Western Conference with the San Jose Sharks at 56 points.
Defenseman Mark Giordano scored for the Flames in the third period.
The Flames (21-24-3) go into break having lost three straight and four of five games, leaving them 13th in the 14-team Western Conference.
The Predators had to kill off a slashing penalty to center Ryan Johansen assessed with 1:30 remaining in regulation time. Giordano hit the crossbar on a shot from the point with 5.1 seconds left and Predators goaltender Carter Hutton made a good blocker save on defenseman Dougie Hamilton with two seconds to go.
Ribeiro opened the scoring at 6:21 of the first when he took a pass from right winger Craig Smith and beat Flames goaltender Karri Ramo between the pads from the left faceoff circle.
The Predators looked fresh and carried the play in the first period, despite playing the night before in Vancouver. They outshot the Flames 11-3 over the first 20 minutes.
Weber's 12th goal of the season came on the power play against the league's 29th worst penalty killing team. He tee-up a slap shot from the left side at 17:37 that Ramo was helpless to stop.
Calgary's captain responded with his own hard slap shot goal 5:38 into the third period. Giordano blasted a shot through screen past Hutton, who was playing in only his eight game of the season.
Hutton stopped 26 of 27 shots while Ramo made 22 saves on 24 shots.
NOTES: Nashville's injured are LW Colin Wilson (lower body) and RW Gabriel Bourque (upper body). Wednesday's healthy scratches for the Predators were D Anthony Bitetto and LW Eric Nystrom. ... Calgary's injured list includes LW Micheal Ferland (upper body), C Josh Jooris (undisclosed) and C Joe Colborne (undisclosed). The Flames lone healthy scratch was D Ladislav Smid. ... The game featured three of the top five shot blockers in the NHL. Flames D Kris Russell had 151 entering the night, with Predators D Roman Josi tied for third (122) and Flames D Mark Giordano alone fifth (120). ... The Flames have not made a roster move involving their AHL affiliate in Stockton since recalling C Markus Granlund and assigning G Joni Ortio on Nov. 26.