Predators can't rally at Calgary, fall 3-1

This time a two-goal deficit was too much for the Nashville Predators to overcome.

J.P. Dumont scored a third-period goal for the second time in as many games, but this time that was all the Predators got in a 3-1 loss at Calgary on Friday.

Dumont’s 10th goal of the season (Radek Bonk had the only assist) got Nashville (21-24-3) within one, 2-1, with 12:03 remaining.

Attempts to get an equalizer were hindered by four penalties against the Predators within 7:17 of Dumont’s goal. The Flames pushed the margin back to two goals when Adrian Aucoin scored with 7:30 remaining and Calgary on a two-man advantage.

Two nights earlier, Dumont got the game-winner in a 5-3 victory at Vancouver. The Predators trailed that one 3-1 in the second period but rallied for four unanswered goals.

Calgary (30-14-4) built a 2-0 lead in this one when Matthew Lombardi and Andre Roy scored 5:02 apart in the second period.

With the loss, the Predators were swept in a season series with Calgary for the first time ever.

Nashville never had failed to earn less than a point per game against the Flames in any of the previous nine seasons. In this season’s four matchups, the Predators were outscored 18-12.

Nashville is scheduled to complete its current three-game road trip Sunday at Edmonton.