Flames spoil Predators' homecoming

After the Predators clinched a return to the Stanley Cup playoffs Saturday, coach Peter Laviolette warned that any lingering euphoria would need to quickly subside.

The Calgary Flames, on the fringes of the Western Conference playoff picture, awaited them in Nashville and would be motivated.

Against a potential first-round opponent — assuming the Flames qualify — the Predators returned from a successful two-game road trip with a 5-2 loss at Bridgestone Arena on Sunday, which snapped a four-game winning streak.

"Clinching a playoff spot was a big goal, but the season's far from over," said defenseman Roman Josi, who opened the scoring with a first-period goal. "There's other goals. We want to win our division. It was a big game for us. We wanted to win that one and didn't show our best effort."

Standing outside of a victorious locker room Saturday in Washington, Laviolette said the Flames would be "hungry." Calgary feasted on four consecutive goals, taking a 2-1 lead into the first intermission and adding to it in the second period, with the Flames spending most of their time in the offensive zone outworking the Predators.

"Seemed like we were slow to get into the battles or at least get a second or a third man into the battles," Laviolette said. "When we got there, I don't think that we did a very good job of taking the majority of those battles into our possession."

A triumphant homecoming spoiled, the Predators looked at Sunday's game as a missed opportunity to reach their loftier ambitions.

"We want to win our conference, we want to win the league,"said defenseman Seth Jones, who scored in the third period. "We want home ice through the playoffs and we need all the points we can get because other teams are winning."

Reach Adam Vingan at 615-259-8023 and on Twitter @AdamVingan.