Final
Preds try to end slide in home test against Bruins
Dec 23, 2013 - 4:18 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - After battling back to earn a point last time out, the Nashville Predators hope to avoid a fourth straight setback on Monday night as they play host to the Boston Bruins.The Predators found themselves down by three goals with just over five minutes to play in the first period on Saturday against the visiting Montreal Canadiens, but got goals from Shea Weber, Gabriel Bourque and Nick Spaling over the next two periods.
Weber's power-play tally tied the game with 6:20 to go in regulation, but Montreal got an unassisted goal from David Desharnais 1:43 into overtime after he took the puck from Mattias Ekholm at the left boards and rifled a slap shot past Carter Hutton from the left circle.
Hutton ended with 17 saves after taking over in the first period from Marek Mazanec, who yielded three goals on five shots.
"We buckled down and ... stayed with it," Preds coach Barry Trotz said. "Instead of pouting about it we got determined and relentless and chipped away at their lead."
Nashville lost rookie defenseman Seth Jones late in the first period after he took a puck to the face. However, he was able to practice on Sunday.
The Bruins, meanwhile, are coming off a split of a home-and-home set with the Buffalo Sabres, losing the road portion on Thursday before notching a 4-1 home victory on Saturday.
David Krejci broke a 1-1 tie early in the second period with a goal and assisted on Milan Lucic's insurance goal in the third. Reilly Smith scored a pair of goals, including an empty-netter in the closing seconds.
"I think it was good, but not good enough," said Krejci. "You need effort and you also have to capitalize on your scoring chances. I felt like we had an OK game, and in this game, OK is not good enough."
Tuukka Rask made 34 saves for Boston, which has won six of its last eight.
The Bruins could have defenseman Adam McQuaid back in the lineup tonight. He has missed nine straight due to a nagging lower-body injury, an ailment that kept him out of eight games earlier in the season.
Also, forward Brad Marchand is expected to play tonight after sitting out practice on Sunday for a maintenance day.
The Bruins are 3-0-2 in their last five versus the Predators. They have lost three straight in Nashville, the past two beyond regulation.
- BOSTON: 6
NASHVILLE: 2
Final
Dec 23 10:34 PM - Boston Power-Play Goal - Carl Soderberg (5), at 5:50.
Bruins 5, Predators 2 3rd - 14:10Dec 23 10:12 PM - Boston Power-Play Goal - Jarome Iginla (10), at 5:01.
Bruins 4, Predators 2 3rd - 14:59Dec 23 10:11 PM - BOSTON: 3
NASHVILLE: 1
End of 2nd
Dec 23 9:43 PM - Nashville Power-Play Goal - Craig Smith (9), at 11:35.
Bruins 3, Predators 1 2nd - 8:25Dec 23 9:24 PM - BOSTON: 3
NASHVILLE: 0
End of 1st
Dec 23 8:49 PM - BOSTON: 0
NASHVILLE: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Dec 23 8:08 PM
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