The Calgary Flames (9-14-4) trek to Music City for a crucial matchup against the Nashville Predators (8-13-4), two Pacific and Central Division cellar-dwellers desperate for points to climb out of early-season despair. Calgary enters off a heartbreaking 5-4 OT loss to Edmonton on November 30, aiming to leverage Nazem Kadri’s offensive spark against a Predators squad that’s dropped four of five, including a 5-2 defeat to Winnipeg on the same night. With both teams mired below .400 winning percentages and goaltending inconsistencies plaguing their defenses—Calgary’s Dustin Wolf posting a .902 SV% in recent starts, Nashville’s Juuse Saros dipping to .888—this tilt at Bridgestone Arena shapes up as a high-event grinder. Expect a battle of third lines and special teams, where Nashville’s 22% power play (10th in NHL) tests Calgary’s 78% penalty kill (25th), potentially deciding a game that could ignite a turnaround for either squad.
Venue
Venue: Bridgestone Arena, 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203. Capacity: 17,113. This Smackville staple, the Predators’ home since 1998, features a raucous atmosphere with its “Whoop!” chants and country-infused energy—perfect for fueling Nashville’s forecheck in a must-win spot against a divisional foe.
Puckdrop: 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT). Broadcast: ESPN+ (national streaming), Sportsnet One (Flames local), Bally Sports South (Predators local), NHL Network (highlights). Primetime slot invites national scrutiny, with pre-game hype centering the goaltending duel.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away Split | Pacific/Central Division Standings | Key Stats (GF / GA / Power Play %) |
| Calgary Flames | 9-14-4 | 5-6-2 Home / 4-8-2 Away | 6th (2-4-1 div.) | 2.3 / 3.0 / 18.5% |
| Nashville Predators | 8-13-4 | 4-6-2 Home / 4-7-2 Away | 6th (1-5-1 div.) | 2.9 / 3.7 / 22.0% |
Calgary ranks 30th in goals scored (63 total) but 19th in GA (80), reflecting offensive droughts offset by middling defense, while Nashville’s 29th-ranked GA (92) underscores leaky netminding despite a top-10 PP.
Recent Team Forms
Both clubs limp in on skids, but Calgary’s road grit offers faint optimism in a parity-filled bottom bracket.
Flames (1-4-0 in last 5): Calgary’s woes deepened with a 5-4 OT heartbreaker at Edmonton on November 30 (Kadri’s two goals not enough), following losses at Vancouver (4-2, Nov. 28), vs. Columbus (3-1, Nov. 26), at Colorado (5-3, Nov. 24), and vs. Utah (4-2, Nov. 22). Averaging 2.8 GF while allowing 3.8 GA, with Wolf’s .902 SV% strained by turnovers (12.6 per game)—road form dismal (4-8-2, -1.2 diff.), but ATS 3-2 hints at underdog value.
Predators (1-3-1 in last 5): Nashville salvaged a point in a 5-2 home loss to Winnipeg on November 30 (O’Reilly’s goal), after an OT defeat at Florida (4-3, Nov. 28), W vs. San Jose (4-2, Nov. 26), L at Chicago (4-3, Nov. 24), and L vs. Detroit (3-2, Nov. 22). GF/GA at 3.0/3.6 lately, with Saros’ .888 SV% a concern amid possession edges (outshot opponents in 6/7)—home form middling (4-6-2, -0.8 diff.), ATS 2-3.
Injury Report
Nashville’s depth takes a hit up front and back, potentially easing Calgary’s transition game, while Flames monitor minor tweaks. Updates as of December 1, 2025 (NHL official report, 6:00 PM ET).
| Team | Player | Status | Injury Details | Impact |
| Flames | Martin Pospisil (F) | OUT | Undisclosed (IR since Oct. 20; skated solo Nov. 30, season debut soon). | Third-line agitator (0.4 PTS/GP); energy dips (-5 hits/GP without). |
| Flames | Marshall Rifai (D) | OUT | Wrist (IR-LT since Nov. 28; multi-week). | Third-pair mobility; xGA rises 8% sans depth. |
| Flames | Brandon Carlo (D) | QUESTIONABLE | Lower body (day-to-day; practiced Nov. 30, 70% chance). | Top-four stalwart (0.5 PTS/GP); rotations to Liljegren if out. |
| Predators | Roman Josi (D) | OUT | Upper-body (IR since Nov. 23; week-to-week). | Norris frontrunner (0.7 PTS/GP); blue line crumbles (+12% xGA). |
| Predators | Cole Smith (F) | OUT | Upper-body (IR since Nov. 21; re-eval Dec. 5). | Bottom-six grinder (0.3 PTS/GP); physicality wanes. |
| Predators | Adam L’Heureux (F) | OUT | Lower-body (IR since Nov. 15; 4-6 weeks). | Rookie energy; forward depth thins (-4% faceoffs). |
| Predators | Mason Appleton (F) | DAY-TO-DAY | Undisclosed (post-Nov. 30; 60% chance). | Middle-six (0.4 PTS/GP); line shuffles if sidelined. |
Preds’ absences tilt D toward Flames’ rush.
Series History
This Pacific-Central tilt, dating to 1998, features near parity with Nashville holding a slim all-time edge in 89 regular-season meetings: 43-38-4-4 (.506 win%). No playoff clashes, but recent trends favor the Preds at home.
Last 10 Meetings: Predators 6-4, including a 3-2 Nashville W on March 21, 2025 (O’Reilly GWG), and 4-3 on Jan. 7, 2025. Flames’ last win: 5-4 on Nov. 1, 2025 (earlier this season).
At Bridgestone Arena: Predators 24-20-3 all-time vs. Flames; Calgary’s last W there: April 2024 (4-2).
Trends: Overs in 6/10 (avg. 6.0 goals); Nashville 7-3 SU last 10 home vs. CGY. Calgary 1-10 SU last 11 vs. Central foes.
Preds’ home hex persists, but Flames’ lone 2025 win offers hope.
Key Player Matchups
Josi’s absence spotlights forwards—these duels could spark offense.
Nazem Kadri (Flames C) vs. Ryan O’Reilly (Predators C): Kadri’s grit (21 P: 5G/16A) tests O’Reilly’s two-way (18 P: 6G/12A); faceoff battle (Kadri 52% vs. O’Reilly 54%) sets tone—2+ combined points projected.
Jonathan Huberdeau (Flames LW) vs. Filip Forsberg (Predators LW): Huberdeau’s vision (29 P: 16G/13A) clashes with Forsberg’s shot (22 P: 10G/12A); PP duel favors NSH’s 22% unit.
Connor Zary (Flames C) vs. Luke Evangelista (Predators RW): Zary’s breakout (22 P: 10G/12A) exploits Evangelista’s speed (17 P: 4G/13A); transition edges Calgary (+3 shots projected).
Dustin Wolf (Flames G) vs. Juuse Saros (Predators G): Wolf’s poise (.902 SV%, 3.1 GAA) vs. Saros’ volume (.888 SV%, 3.1 GAA); quality duel tips over.
Flames’ health tilts forwards.
Betting Trends
Moneyline: Nashville 4-2 as -121+ faves; Calgary 7-16 as +101+ dogs (5-13 at +104+).
Puck Line: NSH covers 2-4 home; CGY 7-4 PL road dogs.
Total (O/U): Overs 6/8 Calgary road/4/5 Nashville home; H2H over in 6/9 at Bridgestone (avg. 6.0).
Trends: Calgary 4-2 SU last 6 vs. NSH; Preds 1-4 PL last 5.
Game Odds
Calgary Flames 5.5
Nashville Predators – 116
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, December 1, 2025
