Calgary Flames vs. Nashville Predators Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/26/2022

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Venue: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Where to watch: Bally Sports South

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Flames: 49-20-10

Predators: 44-29-6

The Calgary Flames have already clinched what they need, and we know they'll be facing the first wild card in the Western Conference. Should things remain as is, it will be the first-round matchup we actually get between the Flames and the Predators.

Calgary has continued to take care of business, but it wasn't that long ago that the Flames lost 3-2 in overtime at Nashville. They've responded with 10 goals in their last two games, including six in a win over the Vancouver Canucks.

If the Flames get this version of Elias Lindholm, it'll be a good day in Calgary. He scored his 40th goal of the season to join Matthew Tkachuk as the two goal scorers to hit the 40 club. Tack on what's been a hell of a year for Johnny Gaudreau, and this offense might actually get over the hump in the first round.

"We want to keep going here and have a good feeling before the playoffs," Lindholm said. "My first year here (in 2018-19) where we clinched early, it felt like we kind of slowed down a little bit before the playoffs started and it's hard to turn it on again just like that. We've got to keep going and keep building our game and just create the good feeling before the playoffs."

The Flames have had a tremendous season, but it would not shock me if they either took their foot off the gas or went into this stretch trying to build momentum heading into the playoffs. And maybe Calgary can finally get over the hump from 2019 that they should've gotten over.

The Nashville Predators are also fighting for their lives and are one win from getting back to the playoffs. And coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild, I'm not really sure what team we're getting at this point.

The defense, outside from Roman Josi, has fallen off a cliff. Nashville is giving up goals at an alarming rate and making Jusse Saros get lit up like a Christmas tree. But all signs point to the Predators finding a way to make this work.

"Both teams battled hard," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "There was a lot of emotion, a lot of special teams, a lot of momentum swings. But I thought our guys really battled hard tonight. We earned a point. We'd like to get two points, but we've got to take some things out of it and get ready for [the] Calgary [Flames on Tuesday]."

I think most of us were expecting Nashville to bounce back with another trip to the playoffs, but I don't think anyone expected Matt Duchene and Filip Forsberg to both score 40 goals the way they have. Add in Josi being the first defenseman since Ray Bourque to hit 90 points, there's a lot to like about how this team scores.

Defending has become the common issue. In their last three losses, the Preds have given up a total of 23 goals. That should never happen under any circumstance, but the fact that it's a problem with three games remaining is extremely inconsiderate.

I do believe in the whole part of Calgary trying to secure momentum before the playoffs, and maybe there's a part of the Flames that thinks they don't want to see Nashville in Round 1. I highly think that Nashville is coming in hot with the home crowd, but I think Calgary starts to pull away in the second period. Flames win 4-2

Flames are 28-15 off an over this season.

Flames are 13-7 this season after winning four of their last five.

Predators are 18-8 after losing two of three this season.

Flames:

Johnny Gaudreau -- Elias Lindholm -- Matthew Tkachuk

Andrew Mangiapane -- Mikael Backlund -- Tyler Toffoli

Dillon Dube -- Calle Jarnkrok -- Blake Coleman

Milan Lucic -- Trevor Lewis -- Brett Ritchie

Noah Hanifin -- Rasmus Andersson

Oliver Kylington -- Christopher Tanev

Nikita Zadorov -- Erik Gudbranson

Jacob Markstrom

Predators:

Filip Forsberg -- Mikael Granlund -- Matt Duchene

Nick Cousins -- Ryan Johansen -- Luke Kunin

Yakov Trenin -- Colton Sissons -- Tanner Jeannot

Eeli Tolvanen -- Michael McCarron -- Philip Tomasino

Roman Josi -- Dante Fabbro

Mattias Ekholm -- Alexandre Carrier

Mark Borowiecki -- Matt Benning

Juuse Saros

Points: Johnny Gaudreau -- 111

Goals: Two tied -- 40

Assists: Johnny Gaudreau -- 72

Goalie: Jacob Markstrom -- 37-15-8, 2.21 GAA, .922 SV%

Points: Roman Josi -- 91

Goals: Matt Duchene -- 41

Assists: Roman Josi -- 70

Goalie: Jusse Saros -- 38-25-3, 2.63 GAA, .918 SV%