Flames score 4 in 1st period, defeat Predators

NASHVILLE -- The Calgary Flames scored four goals in the first period of a 6-3 win against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

Connor Zary, Blake Coleman, Rasmus Andersson and Yegor Sharangovich each had a goal and an assist, and Dan Vladar made 29 saves for the Flames (17-16-5), who have won three consecutive games and six of nine.

“I thought we were the better team for the most part,” Coleman said. “Early in the third, they get that kind of fluky bounce and took the air out a little bit, but aside from that I felt like we were pretty well in control. We got the saves when we needed them. A couple of nice goals early on to give us that momentum, but I thought the energy and the jump was pretty evident pretty much from puck drop.”

Juuse Saros made 20 saves on 25 shots through two periods for the Predators (21-17-1), who had won two straight. Kevin Lankinen made 13 saves in relief.

Saros was coming off a 21-save shutout in a 3-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks here Tuesday.

“We knew the importance of this game,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “We discussed how home ice means something, how we wanted to establish our game, how we wanted to dictate, how we wanted to win battles, how we wanted to out-compete them, and we did none of them.”

Zary gave Calgary a 1-0 lead on the power play at 4:45 of the first period. He scored with a wrist shot from the left face-off circle off a pass from Sharangovich.

“I think we came out pretty hard and we kind of took control of the game,” Zary said. “Obviously we got the lead, and we were able to play with the lead. I think that’s something that we want to do more of. We’ve had a lot of come-from-behind wins and whatnot in the first half of the season. It’s nice to play with the lead and keep the lead.”

Coleman made it 2-0 just 27 seconds later on a wrist shot that went in off Saros’ glove.

Filip Forsberg cut it to 2-1 at 6:09, knocking in the puck from the top of the crease.

Nazem Kadri pushed the Flames lead to 3-1 at 7:57 on a 2-on-1. Kadri cut to the middle of the ice around Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro and beat Saros to the glove side.

"It was definitely not good enough," Forsberg said. "I think we kind of got what we deserved."

Colton Sissons cut it to 3-2 at 15:50 by redirecting a shot from Fabbro.

Andersson gave the Flames a 4-2 lead at 18:43 on a backhand from the slot after he deked around Fabbro and Predators defenseman Roman Josi.

Noah Hanifin pushed the lead to 5-2 with two seconds remaining in the second period, scoring on the rush off a pass from Andrew Mangiapane.

Michael McCarron pulled the Predators within 5-3 at 2:15 of the third period on a dump-in from the neutral zone that went in off Vladar’s blocker.

“I liked the second period … and even the start of the third,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said. “I thought we got on our heels a little bit after they scored their goal to start the third period, but [we] weathered the storm, I guess. That’s an important thing for us.”

Sharangovich scored at 14:04 for the 6-3 final. Lankinen lost the puck behind the net to Elias Lindholm, who fed Sharangovich in front.

“We can’t just win one or two and go back to a loss,” Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “Tonight, against this kind of opponent who is right on our heels, we talked about the importance of getting some points here. Definitely a missed opportunity.”

Flames defenseman Dennis Gilbert left the game with 5:30 left in the third after being hit into the boards by Predators forward Philip Tomasino and hitting his head on the ice. Tomasino was assessed a match penalty for slew-footing.

“I see [Gilbert] moving around [after the game], so he’s probably going to be fine,” Huska said. “He’ll just probably have to go through protocol is what I would assume right now.”

NOTES: Lindholm and Forsberg were among 32 players selected Thursday by the NHL to play in the 2024 NHL All-Star Game at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Feb. 3. … Predators forward Gustav Nyquist got an assist on Forsberg’s goal and extended his point streak to seven games (10 points; five goals, five assists). … Lindholm was 13-for-17 on face-offs (76.5 percent).