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Metropolit's two goals lift Bruins over Predators

Jan 30, 2008 - 4:39 AM BOSTON (Ticker) -- Glen Metropolit's rare feat helped the Boston Bruins start the second half of the season in grand fashion.

Metropolit scored a pair of third-period goals and All-Star Tim Thomas turned away 37 shots as the Bruins posted a 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

It was the third career multi-goal game for Metropolit, and first since the 33-year-old had two goals against Toronto as a member of the Washington Capitals on April 1, 2000.

"When was my last one, probably my second game as a pro, I can't remember," joked Metropolit, who has 10 goals on the season.

Marco Sturm added a power-play goal for Boston, which won for the fourth time in five games.

Metropolit may have been inspired by defenseman Andrew Ference, who appeared to change the momentum of the game just 5:06 into the third when he landed a big hit on Martin Erat before fighting Scott Nichol.

"Whenever there is a hard hit now you almost expect a fight, someone is going to stick up for their teammate, that's almost becoming the status quo in the game," Ference said.

Just 48 seconds later, Metropolit made a nifty move upon entering the offensive zone by faking a slap shot and then curling and dragging the puck past defenseman Greg Zanon. He then wristed a quick shot that beat Chris Mason and provided the Bruins with a 2-1 lead.

"I had a lot of speed and he was kind of flat-footed and I got it through his stick and then got a quick shot off and beat him five-hole," Metropolit said.

It was the 100th career point for Metropolit, who added some insurance with 4:03 remaining when he collected a loose puck in the right corner and wheeled out in front before beating Mason over his shoulder on the near side.

"I kind of knew but Luc {Milan Lucic} was kind of skating over to me with the puck, but I did not want to grab it and do a circle with it - so I told him to take it to the bench for me please, it is only a 100," Metropolit said. "I told Luc on the bench I did not know if I would play my first NHL game, never mind get 100 points."

That cushion proved to be more than enough for Thomas, who made some tremendous saves fresh off his win at the All-Star Game on Sunday. The netminder robbed Radek Bonk with 9:01 left in the contest, stacking his pads as he dropped to the ice attempting to close up an empty net following a rebound. Thomas had 26 saves over the final two periods.

"I had no choice, I think it was the only way to get over there fast enough, it was just a reflex action," Thomas said of the big save.

"In my book, if you look at the opportunities, it could have easily have been a 6-4 hockey game tonight and Tim came up big," Bruins coach Claude Julien. "Tim came up big when we needed him to come up big - and no doubt he was one of our best players tonight."

The Bruins got on the board first after getting the benefit of a questionable call.

With 8:33 into the second period, J.P. Dumont was whistled for goaltender interference after crashing into Thomas as he attempted to play a centering pass from the right boards.

Thomas, who came out of the crease to challenge the play, was quite bothered by Dumont's lack of an attempt to slow down his progress to the net, landing a handful of punches against the right wing while both players were tangled up inside the net.

Upset with what he considered a poor call, Predators captain Jason Arnott was also sent to the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct.

It did not take long for Boston to take advantage of the 5-on-3 situation, breaking a scoreless tie when Sturm accepted a feed from David Krejci from across the net and beat Mason low to the glove side.

"J.P. is driving the net and Thomas comes out of the blue and challenges the pass, and if you look at it, J.P. tries to actually jump over him and they knocked him down and they call goaltender interference," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "Then he gets held down and he gets about five or six blockers to the face and he gets cut up - and he did not get that cut from shaving.

"We (also) get penalized because we are upset about it, and they get a 5-on-3 and we are fortunate they only get one goal."

It was the 17th goal of the season and seventh with the man advantage for Sturm.

That one goal appeared to be all the Bruins would need for Thomas, who turned away the first 24 shots he faced against Nashville until some poor defensive play by Boston captain Zdeno Chara gave the Predators the break they needed.

With less than a minute before the end of the second period, Chara had a poor pass back to Dennis Wideman in the defensive end, forcing the blue-liner to chase the puck behind his net.

After a forecheck by Arnott, Dumont picked up the loose puck in the left corner and immediately flipped a pass to the front of the net where a streaking Alexander Radulov banged a shot past Thomas.

It was the 18th goal of the season for Radulov.

Arnott had an assist to extend his point streak to seven games for the Predators.