Predators 3 - 4 Bruins
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Bruins host Preds in clash between struggling clubs

Feb 11, 2012 - 3:38 PM (Sports Network) - The Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins are trying not to panic during their recent skids. The two clubs look to get right this afternoon as the Predators visit the Bruins.

Though Nashville is 14-4-1 over its past 19 games, the club has lost three of its past four and Thursday's 4-3 loss in Ottawa dropped the club two points behind St. Louis for second place in the Central Division and fourth overall in the Western Conference.

The Predators got a goal and an assist from Martin Erat in Thursday's loss, giving him two goals and six points in his past three games, while Patric Hornqvist and Gabriel Bourque added scores. Ryan Suter notched two assists.

"I thought we weren't as engaged as we needed to be," Predators head coach Barry Trotz said. "We were very sloppy and if you're going to play against a desperate team, you can't play a sloppy, light game."

Pekka Rinne was touched for all four goals on 29 shots and has now allowed seven goals in back-to-back losses after yielding more than two just once over his club-record 11-game win streak from Jan. 7-Feb. 4.

Nashville played without Brian McGrattan due to an upper-body injury and he is questionable for this game.

The Bruins' struggles have gone on a bit longer than the Predators as the defending Stanley Cup champions are 5-6-1 in their last 12. They now trail the Rangers by five points for the top spot in the East and their lead over the second-place Senators in the Northeast Division has dipped to five.

Boston was humbled in Buffalo on Wednesday, dropping a 6-0 decision. Ryan Miller made 36 saves for the Sabres, while Tuukka Rask got the start for the Bruins and was touched for three goals on 10 shots before getting lifted early in the second period.

Rask was replaced by Tim Thomas, who made 16 saves on 19 shots.

"We just have to pick ourselves up off the ground and come to the next game ready to give the best effort we can," said Thomas.

Boston was coming off a 4-1 win over Washington last Sunday, but failed to win two straight for the first time since Jan. 10-12.

The Predators have won two of their past three versus the Bruins, picking up both triumphs beyond regulation. That includes a 4-3 overtime win at home on March 17 of last year, with Shea Weber netting the winner on a power play and Rinne making 35 saves.

Rask got the start for the Bruins and ended with 27 saves.

The Bruins did log a 3-2 victory in the Preds' last trip to Boston on Oct. 21, 2009.






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