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Preds aim for another rebound effort vs. Bruins

Dec 16, 2014 - 4:09 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - No team has been better at bouncing back from a loss this season than the Nashville Predators.

Goaltender Pekka Rinne is a big reason why.

Rinne and the Predators try to avoid their first two-game losing streak of the season on Tuesday night as they play host to the Boston Bruins.

Nashville has answered each of its 10 setbacks this season with a win, something it will try to do again tonight following a 2-0 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

Rinne yielded only one goal on 33 shots faced, but the Sharks' Antti Niemi stopped all 29 Predator shots for the shutout. Nashville had 18 shots in the third period, but could not score.

The Predators got a scare in the second period when captain Shea Weber was cut under his arm when he came down on the left skate of Sharks forward Tye McGinn at the end of a check in the second period. However, the defenseman later returned to the game after having the cut addressed.

Saturday's loss gave the Predators a 2-1 mark on their road trip and was only their third setback in 10 games. Head coach Peter Laviolette said on Monday that there is no secret as to why his club has yet to lose two in a row.

"We've got a hard-working group here that understands the recipe for success," Laviolette told Nashville's website. "When you start removing an ingredient or two, the recipe isn't as good, and (the players) know that. We know exactly what we have to do on the ice, and I think our practice and the video backs that up. The results have followed our efforts when we play the right way."

Of course, having Rinne in net helps too. He leads the NHL with 18 wins and a 1.75 goals against average, while his .937 save percentage is tied for tops in the league.

Rinne is 2-0-1 in his career versus the Bruins with a 2.48 GAA and .923 save percentage.

The Bruins hit the road for three in a row and are coming off a 3-2 shootout setback to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Tuukka Rask made 29 saves, but was bested twice in the tiebreaker.

Loui Eriksson tallied and Craig Cunningham scored his first career goal for the Bruins, who have won just twice in their past nine games (2-5-2).

Cunningham's first tally came short-handed with 8:15 to play in the first period as he chased down Zdeno Chara's clearing attempt before unleashing a slap shot into the net.

"(Chara) made a good play, kind of chipped it out of the zone," said Cunningham. "I think their d-men kind of got a little flat-footed, I took off, buried my head and tried to get it on net. Luckily it went in."

The Bruins could have a bit more luck on their side during this road trip as forward David Krejci is expected to travel with the team. He has missed 10 straight with a groin injury, though it is unknown when he will be able to actually return.

Boston visits Minnesota on Wednesday and then caps its trip at Winnipeg on Friday.

Rask is 1-0-1 with a 2.91 GAA and .908 save percentage in two career meetings with the Predators, while backup Niklas Svedberg has faced them once before.

That came in Svedberg's NHL debut and only start of last season, a 3-2 victory in overtime on Jan. 2. The rookie gave up only two goals on 35 shots faced.

That win by Svedberg came in the most recent encounter between the clubs and stretched Boston's series win streak to three in a row.