Right from the start of training camp Flame coach Brent Sutter cautioned his players and fans “get used to 2-1, 3-2 and the the like games.”

It’s as advertised.

On Tuesday in Nashville, for the 30th time in 42 games the Flames that was decided by 2 goals or less.

….And the 16th time the Flames were on the winning side. Stopping the Predators, 3-1.

It was the Flames season best 5th win in- a-row and in the last 4 permitting just 1 goal against.

Sutter was pleased with his charges first 2 periods when they built up a 2-0 lead on goals by David Moss and Ollie Jokinen.

The coach felt his players got away from the game plan giving the Preds too many good chances . One of them resulted in a goal taking a shutout bid away from Miikka Kiprusoff.
Daymond Langkow sealed the win with a last minute ENG.

The victory moved the Flames back into first place in the NW Div by one point over Colorado.

Will they stay on top? Wednesday they’ll try with a game in Minnesota where another close game is almost assured. 7 of the last 9 games between the Flames and Wild have been decided by one goal.

  Despite a late charge, the Flames didn’t reach the season’s midway point with a record better than last year.

  However, the Brent Sutter squad has a shot at attaining something last season’s team didn’t — collect 100 points. This collection is on pace to finish with 106 points

  After Saturday’s 3-1 triumph over Toronto, the Flames reached the 41-game mark with 53 points — one point less than last year at mid-term.

  The ’08-09 squad, under Mike Keenan, had 25 wins and 54 points. However, the 2nd half wasn’t quite as good ending with 98 points.  The ’05-06 team is the last Flame team to get 100 points ending with 103 and first place in the NW Division under Darryl Sutter.

  Saturday’s success marked the fourth time this season, the Flames have won 4-straight games. This over a stretch of 4 games in 5 evenings.

  Jarome Iginla ended his longer point-famine of the campaign over the Maple Leafs notching the first goal and setting up the winner for Curtis Glencross, who ended the game with 2 goals. The points were Iginla’s first in 4 games.

  Since losing 5-1 to Vanmcouver on Dec. 28 and the post-game soul-searching, the Flames have allowed just one goal in each of the 4 wins. Pleasing coach Sutter with their renewed commitment to a defense-first style.  The club is again performing as it did in Nov. when it ran off a 10-2-2 record.

  Next, a quick 2-game road trip.  Tuesday in Nashville and Wednesday in Minnesota.