Predators vs Flames: Projected Lineups and Game Preview – January 3, 2026

The Nashville Predators and the Calgary Flames face off tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome in a game that could define their trajectory as they enter the second half of the 2025-26 season. Both teams hold identical records of 18-18-4, making this a pivotal Western Conference showdown. The stakes are high, with the winner inching closer to a playoff spot in what is shaping up to be a mediocre Western Conference.

Team Records and Recent Performances

• Nashville Predators: The Predators are trying to bounce back from a 4-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on New Year's Day. Despite the recent setback, they have shown signs of improvement, going 12-6-0 in their last 18 games.
• Calgary Flames: The Flames are on a three-game winning streak, fueled by a dominant 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Calgary has been particularly strong at home, boasting a 12-5-2 record at the Scotiabank Saddledome. They have won 9 of their last 10 games at home and 5 straight.

Projected Lineups

Here are the projected lineups for tonight's game:

Nashville Predators:

• Forwards: Filip Forsberg — Ryan O'Reilly — Steven Stamkos; Michael Bunting — Erik Haula — Luke Evangelista; Tyson Jost — Fedor Svechkov — Matthew Wood; Reid Schaefer — Michael McCarron — Cole Smith.
• Defense: Roman Josi — Nick Perbix; Brady Skjei — Adam Wilsby; Nicolas Hague — Nick Blankenburg.
• Goalies: Juuse Saros (expected), Justus Annunen.
• Scratched: None.
• Injured: Ozzy Wiesblatt (upper body), Justin Barron (lower body), Jonathan Marchessault (lower body).

Calgary Flames:

• Forwards: Yegor Sharangovich — Nazem Kadri — Joel Farabee; Jonathan Huberdeau — Morgan Frost — Adam Klapka; Blake Coleman — Mikael Backlund — Matt Coronato; Ryan Lomberg — John Beecher — Connor Zary.
• Defense: Kevin Bahl — Rasmus Andersson; Yan Kuznetsov — Mackenzie Weegar; Joel Hanley — Hunter Brzustewicz.
• Goalies: Dustin Wolf (expected), Devin Cooley.
• Scratched: Brayden Pachal, Justin Kirkland.
• Injured: Jake Bean (undisclosed), Samuel Honzek (upper body), Zayne Parekh (upper body), Martin Pospisil (undisclosed).

Players to Watch

• Nashville Predators: Steven Stamkos has been on a hot streak, with 10 goals and 5 assists in his last 11 games. Filip Forsberg is also a key offensive player to watch.
• Calgary Flames: Mikael Backlund has been playing exceptionally well, leading the team recently and extending his point streak to six games with five goals and four assists. Nazem Kadri leads the Flames with 32 points in 40 games. Dustin Wolf is expected to start in goal and has been playing well, posting a .924 save percentage in December.

Goaltending Matchup

The anticipated goaltending matchup features Juuse Saros for the Predators and Dustin Wolf for the Flames. While Wolf has been in good form recently, Saros has had a lackluster season so far, with a .897 save percentage.

Additional Factors

• The Predators are currently on a seven-game road trip, while the Flames are enjoying a strong home record.
• Several players are out with injuries for both teams, which could impact the game's dynamics.
• Calgary coach Ryan Huska has recently shuffled his forward lines, which could bring a different dynamic to the game.

With both teams having identical records, this game promises to be a closely contested battle. The Flames' home advantage and recent form give them a slight edge, but the Predators have the firepower to pull off a victory.