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Predators-Flames Preview

Dec 18, 2009 - 7:01 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Nashville (21-11-3) at Calgary (20-10-4), 4:00 p.m. EDT

The Nashville Predators are on the verge of matching the longest single-season road point streak in franchise history. They weren't even close, though, in their last matchup with the Calgary Flames.

Having earned points in six straight on the road, the Predators look to snap a five-game losing streak to the Flames on Saturday afternoon in a matchup of two of the Western Conference's top teams.

Nashville (21-11-3) is 5-0-1 away from Sommet Center after losing six of its previous nine (3-5-1) on the road. The Predators' longest single-season road point streak is seven games (7-0-0) from Oct. 16-Nov. 4, 2006.

Nashville extended its streak with a 6-3 win over Edmonton on Thursday night. Seventeen players have posted points as the Predators have won three straight overall, scoring 18 goals.

The Predators, though, lost 5-0 to the Flames (20-10-4) on Nov. 30, their fifth straight defeat in the series. Nashville has totaled three goals in its last three matchups with Calgary.

Strong defense has led to points in four straight home games (3-0-1) for the Flames. Calgary has given up five goals during that span, winning 2-1 over Los Angeles on Thursday night.

But it was the first win in four games overall for the Flames, who gave goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff his 30th start following a night off. He made 15 of his 34 saves in the third period.

"We've had some tough times lately and we know we had to bounce back," Kiprusoff said. "We're going to be home for a few games now."

Kiprusoff will likely start again as Calgary continues a four-game homestand. He's 18-8-4 with a 2.14 goals-against average and three shutouts, the last coming in the first matchup with the Predators.

Patric Hornqvist had two goals and an assist, and Ryan Jones, Joel Ward, Marcel Goc and Jerred Smithson also scored for Nashville on Thursday.

Hornqvist has four goals and two assists in his last three games, and Jones has found the back of the net once in each of his last four after failing to post a point in any of his first 12.

Jones is three goals shy of matching his rookie total, set in 46 games last season.

Martin Erat has seven goals and five assists in his last nine games. The veteran right wing, though, has been held without a point in four of his last six against the Flames.

Nashville has had some trouble defensively in recent weeks, allowing three goals or more in five straight. Pekka Rinne, who has started the last two games, is 0-2-0 with a 4.83 GAA in three games versus Calgary.