Right winger Jerred Smithson put the situation in the most succinct terms.

"We have to pick it up, find a way to win and play some good hockey," he said in the wake of Saturday afternoon's loss to Calgary in the final seconds at the Sommet Center.

The Predators scored two goals, almost a bonanza compared to previous games. But this was the team's fourth loss in a row. Making it worse is that the last two losses have been on home ice with three more games left in this homestand.

While the penalty kill continues to be outstanding, the Predators' power play is struggling.

"Our power play is really going to need to pick it up and get us points," said goaltender Dan Ellis.

In a matchup of teams heading in different directions in the Western Conference, Todd Bertuzzi's late third-period efforts ensured that they both continued their streaks. Bertuzzi scored with 23.4 seconds remaining in the third period to lead the Calgary Flames to their fifth straight win with a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday afternoon.

Jason LaBarbera looked pretty good in a Vancouver uniform. Acquired from the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday after Curtis Sanford was injured, LaBarbera made 31 saves Thursday night in the Canucks' 2-1 victory over Nashville. "I really liked the way he challenged the shooters," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said.

It took the Edmonton Oilers 34 games to play the way coach Craig MacTavish thought they would at the beginning of the season. Dwayne Roloson made 28 saves, and Eric Cole had a goal and two assists in the Oilers' 5-2 victory over Nashville on Sunday night. "There were a lot of things about tonight that were the things we anticipated seeing at the beginning of the year," MacTavish said.

Playing the Detroit Red Wings usually brings out the best in the Nashville Predators. This time, the first meeting of the season between the Central Division rivals helped the Predators find their offense once again. Defenseman Kevin Klein scored a power-play goal, Vern Fiddler added a goal late in the second period, and the Predators held off Detroit 3-2 on Friday night.

Tomas Vokoun reminded the Nashville Predators just how good he used to be. Florida's goaltender made 27 saves for his second consecutive shutout and Michael Frolik scored twice to help the Florida Panthers beat Nashville 3-0 Tuesday night. "He looks good," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "Vokey's moving well.