The Nashville Predators beat the Calgary Flames 5-1 at Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 2, their largest margin of victory of the season.

The Predators (9-13-4, 22 points) took an early 1-0 lead on Reid Schaefer’s first NHL goal and never looked back. In the second period, they added goals by Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Ozzy Wiesblatt, who also scored his first NHL goal.

Michael Bunting scored early in the third to make it 5-0, giving him his second point. From there, the Predators fell back into a more defensive structure, though they did allow a Morgan Frost power play goal late in the third. The Flames (9-14-4, 22 points) managed 28 shots on Juuse Saros, but he made 27 saves and earned his eighth win of the season.

Devin Cooley started in net for Calgary, but was pulled after making 12 saves on 16 shots. Dustin Wolf finished with eight saves in relief.

Nashville will visit the Florida Panthers on Dec. 4.

PROSPECT CHECK-IN: How Brady Martin, Nashville Predators’ first-round picks are developing

What a period for the Predators. They extend their lead to 4-0 over the Flames on goals by Jonathan Marchessault and Ozzy Wiesblatt, with Wiesblatt’s goal being his first NHL goal.

This is 5th time in franchise history that two Predators players have scored their first NHL goal in the same game. The last time it happened was Jan. 9, 2020 when Colin Blackwell and Pekka Rinne did it.

A beautiful play by Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Evangelista to empty the net for Steven Stamkos put the Predators up 2-0 over the Flames. O’Reilly fed it to Evangelista on the wrap around, who tapped a pass on the backside to Stamkos.

That’s also Stamkos’ 1,200th NHL point and he’s now 11 goals from 600 in his career.

Nashville started the game better than they have recently, but didn’t end it well. Though they still own the lead 1-0, they allowed the Flames several odd man rushes to close out the period. Calgary leads in shots 10-9 after 20 minutes.

Fresh off Vanderbilt football’s 45-24 win over Tennessee, Vanderbilt football coach Clark Lea made an appearance at the Predators game. Sitting in the club level, he gave the crowd a “VU” gesture as he was announced.

The Commodores just had their first 10-win season in school history and are No. 14 in the College Football Playoff rankings.

A much better start tonight than their last three home games – the Predators go up 1-0 on Reid Schaefer’s first NHL goal.

Schaefer was camped out in front of goaltender Devin Cooley and slammed home a rebound for the score. Nice first goal for the kid.

The Predators announced before the game that defenseman Nick Perbix would miss tonight’s game with an upper body injury. Here’s how the Predators will lineup against the Flames:

Steven Stamkos – Ryan O’Reilly – Luke Evangelista

Filip Forsberg – Erik Haula – Jonathan Marchessault

Michael Bunting – Tyson Jost – Ozzy Wiesblatt

Ried Schaefer – Fedor Svechkov – Matthew Wood

Defense:

Nicolas Hague – Roman Josi

Brady Skjei – Adam Wilsby

Spencer Stastney – Nick Blankeburg

Goaltender: Juuse Saros

The Nashville Predators vs. Calgary Flames game will be televised by FanDuel Sports Network South, with streaming available via FUBO and ESPN+ (outside of the Nashville TV market).

Odds according to BetMGM on Tuesday, Dec. 2

PUCK LINE:  Predators -1.5 at +195, Flames +1.5 at -235O/U:  5.5 goalsMONEY LINE: Predators -120, Flames +100

All times Central; Games on FanDuel Sports Network South unless otherwise noted

Record: 8-13-4, 20 points

October

Oct. 9: Columbus Blue Jackets, W 2-1Oct. 11: Utah Mammoth, L (OT) 3-2Oct. 13: at Ottawa Senators, W 4-1Oct. 14: at Toronto Maple Leafs, L 7-4Oct. 16: at Montreal Canadiens, L (OT) 3-2Oct. 18: at Winnipeg Jets, L 4-1Oct. 21: Anaheim Ducks, L 5-2Oct. 23: Vancouver Canucks, W 2-1Oct. 25: Los Angeles Kings, W 5-4 (SO)Oct. 26: Dallas Stars, L 3-2Oct. 28: Tampa Bay Lightning, L 5-2Oct. 30: at Philadelphia Flyers, L 4-1

November

Nov. 1: Calgary Flames, W 4-2Nov. 3: Vancouver Canucks, L 5-4 OTNov. 4: at Minnesota Wild, L 3-2 OTNov. 6: Philadelphia Flyers, L 3-1Nov. 8: Dallas Stars, L 5-4Nov. 10: at New York Rangers, L 6-3Nov. 14: Pittsburgh Penguins W, 2-1 OTNov. 16: at Pittsburgh Penguins L, 4-0Nov. 22: Colorado Avalanche, L 3-0Nov. 24: Florida Panthers, L 8-3Nov. 26: at Detroit Red Wings, W 6-3Nov. 28: at Chicago Blackhawks, W 4-3Nov. 29: Winnipeg Jets, L 5-2

December

Dec. 2: Calgary FlamesDec. 4: at Florida PanthersDec. 6: at Carolina HurricanesDec. 9: Colorado AvalancheDec. 11: St. Louis BluesDec. 13: at Colorado AvalancheDec. 15: at St. Louis BluesDec. 17: Carolina HurricanesDec. 20: Toronto Maple LeafsDec. 21: New York RangersDec. 23: at Minnesota WildDec. 27: at St. Louis BluesDec. 29: at Utah MammothDec. 31: at Vegas Golden Knights

January

Jan. 1: at Seattle KrakenJan. 3: at Calgary FlamesJan. 6: at Edmonton OilersJan. 8: New York IslandersJan. 10: Chicago BlackhawksJan. 11: Washington CapitalsJan. 13: Edmonton OilersJan. 16: at Colorado AvalancheJan. 17: at Vegas Golden KnightsJan. 20: Buffalo SabresJan. 22: Ottawa SenatorsJan. 24: Utah MammothJan. 27: at Boston BruinsJan. 29: at New Jersey DevilsJan. 31: at New York Islanders

February

Feb. 2: St. Louis BluesFeb. 4: Minnesota WildFeb. 5: at Washington CapitalsFeb. 26: Chicago BlackhawksFeb. 28: at Dallas Stars

March

March 2: Detroit Red WingsMarch 3: at Columbus Blue JacketsMarch 5: Boston BruinsMarch 7: at Buffalo SabresMarch 10: at Seattle KrakenMarch 12: at Vancouver CanucksMarch 15: at Edmonton OilersMarch 17: at Winnipeg JetsMarch 19: Seattle KrakenMarch 21: Vegas Golden KnightsMarch 22: at Chicago BlackhawksMarch 24: San Jose SharksMarch 26: New Jersey DevilsMarch 28: Montreal CanadiensMarch 29: at Tampa Bay Lightning

April

April 2: at Los Angeles KingsApril 4: at San Jose SharksApril 6: at Los Angeles KingsApril 7: at Anaheim DucksApril 9: at Utah Hockey ClubApril 11: Minnesota WildApril 13: San Jose SharksApril 16: Anaheim Ducks

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