The Nashville Predators defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1 at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 4, 2025, marking their second consecutive win. Ryan O'Reilly starred for the Predators, scoring all three of his team’s goals on the power play, and helping Nashville improve their position as they look to climb up the Western Conference standings.
The game began with both teams vying for control, but it was the Predators who struck first. O'Reilly opened the scoring with his first goal just over four minutes and twenty seconds from the start of the second period. Assisted by Fedor Svechkov, O'Reilly capitalized on the power-play opportunity after Flames forward Andrei Kuzmenko was penalized.
"We know we've got to put a run together and we need every point we can get. Tonight, two huge ones," O'Reilly said post-game. His efforts didn't stop there, as he quickly added another power-play goal right before the final minute of the second period, extending Nashville’s lead to 2-0. The Flames struggled to maintain momentum, their power play failing to capitalize on numerous opportunities.
Mikael Backlund finally got one back for the Flames at 18:22 of the second period, sending a slapper from the right face-off circle past Justus Annunen, who was also pivotal for the Predators, making 31 saves throughout the game. Despite the goal, Calgary’s inability to sustain their earlier dominance proved costly.
"We played a great first period. We came out ready to go and really dominated the game. Just couldn't find a way to score a goal. Special teams let us down," Backlund reflected after the game.
Continuing their offensive pressure, the Predators were relentless. Svechkov gave Nashville their third goal of the night at 9:19 of the third period, tucking the puck around Wolf's pad after scrambling for the face-off. "It’s nice to have a win. That’s why we play every game, the feeling after the game," Svechkov said, emphasizing the importance of the victory.
With O'Reilly's third goal resulting from the Flames pulling their goalie for the extra attacker, Nashville sealed their 4-1 win. The Predators had finally broken their three-game losing streak, showcasing their resilience and determination to stay competitive.
The loss left the Flames with three defeats out of their last four games, and they must quickly regroup to find their form. With the current NHL season still offering opportunities for playoff contention, teams must prioritize consistency and capitalize on scoring chances.
Looking at the standings, the Predators now have 31 points, improving slightly from their previous position, but still needing to push hard as they aim for the playoff spots. The Flames, sitting with 43 points, need to regain their confidence and solidify their performances if they want to avoid sliding down the rankings.
Both teams will now prepare for their upcoming games, with the Predators aiming to keep their winning momentum intact and the Flames desperate to address their inconsistencies and turnaround the tide. The battle for playoff positioning is just heating up as January progresses.