Flames 1 - 2 Predators
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Flames, Preds battle in Music City

Dec 13, 2011 - 4:16 PM (Sports Network) - The Nashville Predators will continue a four-game homestand this evening versus the Calgary Flames at Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators opened the residency with a 3-2 win versus Anaheim on Saturday, as Jordin Tootoo posted a goal and an assist after serving a two-game suspension. He owns four goals and four assists in his past eight games for the Predators, who got goals from Nick Spaling and Roman Josi.

"I think we've been playing much better defensively," said Tootoo. "Obviously there's things we need to clean up, but it's definitely getting better here."

Pekka Rinne stopped 15 shots in a winning cause. Nashville has won two in a row and four of its last seven games and is 5-5-3 in the Music City this season. The Predators will also host Detroit and St. Louis on the homestand.

Craig Smith has five points (1g, 4a) in Nashville's last five games and leads the team with 22 points (8g, 14a). The Predators are 10-1-2 when holding their opponent to two goals or less.

The Flames will kick off a four-game road trip Tuesday against Nashville, Tampa Bay, Florida and Chicago, and are 6-8-0 away from the Saddledome.

Calgary completed a perfect three-game homestand with a 3-0 blanking of rival Edmonton on Saturday, as Miikka Kiprusoff turned aside 21 shots for his second shutout of the season and 44th of his career. Kiprusoff has posted wins in six of his last seven starts and earned points in all seven.

Jarome Iginla scored twice and Tom Kostopoulos had the other goal for the Flames, who have won three straight for the first time this season and six of their previous eight games.

"It was a solid team effort from everybody, from our goaltender right on out through our whole pack," said Flames coach Brent Sutter, who is five wins shy of 100 with the team. "I thought our penalty kill did a really good job."

Iginla has 495 goals in his career and owns four goals and five assists in the last five games. He leads Calgary with 11 goals on the season. Alex Tanguay is questionable for Tuesday's game with flu-like symptoms and veteran Brendan Morrison is two points shy of 600 in his career.

Calgary and Nashville have split a pair of meetings this season, but the Flames have won five of the past six matchups in this series. Calgary is unbeaten in its last six trips to the Volunteer State.






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