Nashville Predators vs Calgary Flames Picks and Predictions December 10th 2024

Flames, Struggling Offense Travel to Face Disappointing Predators

The Calgary Flames and Nashville Predators, both mired in prolonged struggles, meet Tuesday in Nashville with hopes of turning their seasons around. For two teams that began the campaign with vastly different expectations, their current standings tell a tale of underachievement and frustration.

Flames: Searching for Offense and Stability

The Flames are reeling, having secured just one win in their last seven games (1-4-2) and sitting on an eight-game road winless streak (0-5-3). Once a promising playoff contender, Calgary has slid out of postseason position. Their latest defeat, a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday, highlighted their primary issue: an anemic offense.

Key Challenges for Calgary

• Record-Setting Scoring Drought: The Flames have gone a franchise-record 25 games without scoring more than three goals. Despite flashes of effectiveness on the power play in recent weeks, generating even-strength offense has been a consistent issue.
• Road Woes: Calgary’s 3-7-4 road record reflects a team struggling to find its footing away from home. The loss in Dallas showcased lapses in defensive structure and a lack of scoring punch late in games.
• Player Perspectives:
  • Jonathan Huberdeau: “We’re not in a bad spot, so I think we can’t get frustrated. We’ve got to stay positive and find a way to get a win.”
  • Coach Ryan Huska: “We have to find a way to hit the (offensive blue line) with a little bit more speed, make sure we’re hungrier for the loose pucks.”

Predators: A Season Gone Sideways

For Nashville, the season’s trajectory has been disappointing. Expected to compete after offseason moves to bolster their lineup, the Predators now find themselves battling to stay out of last place in the league standings. They are winless in their last seven games (0-4-3) and have scored just 11 goals during that span.

Key Challenges for Nashville

• Offensive Struggles: Like the Flames, Nashville has struggled to find the back of the net. They’ve scored only one goal in their last two games, including a 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday where their lone tally came with less than two minutes remaining.
• Mounting Pressure: As they sit 12 points out of a playoff spot, the Predators are aware of the daunting task ahead.
  • Luke Schenn: “It seems like a crazy mountain to climb if you start looking at the big picture, so (we’re taking it) one day at a time.”
  • Coach Andrew Brunette: “When you’re not scoring goals, (mistakes are) hard to recover from. We’ll break free at some point.”

Key Matchups to Watch

Struggling Offenses

Both teams rank among the league’s least effective in generating offense. Calgary hasn’t scored more than three goals in regulation since October, while Nashville has been shut down in key moments during their losing streak.

Goaltending Duel

• Calgary: Jacob Markstrom remains a solid presence, but he’ll need support from his defense to limit high-danger opportunities.
• Nashville: Juuse Saros continues to battle despite little goal support, and his performance could be critical in stopping Calgary’s desperate attempts to end their scoring woes.

Special Teams Battle

Calgary’s power play has shown signs of life, but Nashville’s penalty kill will look to counter. With both teams searching for offense, success on special teams could determine the outcome.

What’s at Stake?

• For Calgary: A win would not only end their road losing streak but also provide a much-needed morale boost before the holiday break.
• For Nashville: Ending their winless skid is imperative to regaining confidence and preventing further freefall in the standings.

Check out NHL Metropolitan Division Odds & Predictions for detailed insights and analysis.

Prediction

With both teams facing significant struggles, the game is likely to be tightly contested. Calgary’s power play and Nashville’s home-ice advantage could play pivotal roles, but the Flames’ slightly better recent form might give them the edge.