Preds    4

Flames  2

This opening game of the third round featured 2 teams that took entirely different routes to get to this point. The Preds took 6 games to dispose of the Stars and then 7 games + an OT period to slide by the Blackhawks while the Flames wiped out the Blues 4 straight and took 1 game over the minimum to dump the Kings in 5. With the Preds seemingly struggling every step of the way and the Flames just rolling you would think that this would be a tough game for the Preds to win on the road but they took control of this game early and maintained it throughout. Although the Flames opened the scoring early in the first they were outplayed badly thru the first 2 periods being outshot 28-12 and when Nashville potted their 4th goal it was to the showers with C.Talbot as his night was done. The game leveled off in the third as the Flames tried to push back but Nashvilles defensive posture was just too much to overcome as quality scoring chances were hard to come by and Bobby Lou wouldn't let in another goal to give them any life. GM Kevin and the hometown Flames will look to even things up at home in game 2. Preds up 1-0