It’s time to get back to work after a day off to rest and recharge. Tonight’s game against Calgary closes out a five game homestand. Five games in eight days, especially tough was the three games in four days the Predators completed Sunday night. It showed as the Predators flat out did not look good. The Flames arrived in Nashville last night after blowing into Carolina and picking up a 2-0 shutout over the Hurricanes. This is Calgary’s only appearance in Music City this season.

This is certainly a different looking Flames team than the one that help the Predators close out the regular season last year. Biggest difference is in net where Miikka Kiprusoff is no longer between the pipes for the Flames.

The numbers suggest a low scoring game tonight as the Flames are 29th in NHL scoring with 2.17 goals per game, the Preds aren’t much better, scoring 2.32 a game, good for 26th in the league… so we should expect a wild 8-7 decision tonight, or a 1-0 game featuring a 15 round shootout.

The offensive struggles for Nashville can be laid at the feet of the power play. They are 0-8 in their past four games and only one power play goal in their last seven games. This may be the team for the offense to get well against, despite the shutout last night, the Flames have themselves been shut out five of their past nine games with only eight total goals scored.

Injuries will play a role as well, as Mike Cammalleri went down over the weekend in Pittsburgh, sustaining a concussion in the game vs. the Penguins. The scoring will have to come from rookie Sean Monahan, who leads the team (with Cammalleri) in goals scored, and veteran Jiri Hudler. The Flames also list Kris Russell Blair Jones and Curtis Glencross on IR, winger David Jones was scratched for his fifth straight game in Carolina due to an eye injury and is doubtful for tonight. The Predators only list Pekka Rinne on IR.

Game time is 7pm at Bridgestone Arena. No local TV tonight, radio coverage on the Prewdators Radio Network, flagship station is 102.5 the Game.

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Random Notes

- SportsClubStats.com (usually my favorite website starting around now) has the Preds playoff chances at 1%. So you’re saying there’s a chance…

- Preds prospect and Harvard forward Jimmy Vesey continues to develop and is on one helluva run right now. In his last seven games for the Crimson, he has seven goals and three assists.

- Paul Maurice’s first test as Jets coach? Call it passed as the Jets flew to a 5-1 win over the struggling Phoenix Coyotes.

- According to Sports Business Daily, the Winter Classic generated more than $20 million in profits.

- Eleven games tonight – 6pm starts – Maple Leafs @ Bruins, Sharks @ Capitals, Lightning @ Rangers. 6:30pm starts – Flyers @ Sabres, Devils @ Canadiens, Islanders @ Panthers. 7pm starts – Avalanche @ Blackhawks, Coyotes @ Blues, Flames @ Predators, Senators @ Wild 7:30pm start – Oilers @ Stars.

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SlapShot Radio, Join Pete Weber and I as we chat with hockey’s best, every Wednesday night at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network. We are very excited about our Winter Premier episode, featuring a star-studded lineup… USA Today’s Kevin Allen, ESPN.com’s Craig Custance and the Host of Coatsey’s Corner on CSN, Flyer’s analyst Steve Coates. Pete will be joining us from the City of Brotherly Love.

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