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Bruins hope to avoid 3rd straight loss vs. Preds

Jan 2, 2014 - 3:53 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Boston Bruins will try to avoid their first three- game losing streak of the season when they welcome the Nashville Predators for Thursday's clash at TD Garden.

Boston is coming off consecutive defeats at the hands of Ottawa and the New York Islanders, giving the Bruins just their third two-game slide of the season and first since Nov. 2-5.

The last time Boston dropped three straight was in Games 4, 5 and 6 of last spring's Stanley Cup Finals loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Bruins' last three-game losing streak in the regular season was part of an 0-3-1 slide from April 11-20 of last season.

Boston fell to 0-2 against the Islanders this season after dropping a 5-3 home decision on Tuesday. John Tavares netted a pair of third-period goals to lift New York to the road triumph at TD Garden.

David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille provided offense for the Bruins, who have dropped two straight in regulation for the first time since Oct. 26-30. Tuukka Rask was on the hook for all five goals on 31 shots, as Boston fell despite holding a 3-1 lead at one point.

"I think when we took the 3-1 lead, we kind of relaxed and they came back hard and they kind of got the momentum back and we couldn't regain it," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien.

Boston had an eight-game home win streak halted on Tuesday, but the B's are still 16-4-2 in Beantown this season.

Nashville, meanwhile, enters Thursday having won its last two games and can match a season-high winning streak with another victory tonight. However, the Preds have lost three of the last four meetings against the Bruins overall and three straight in Boston.

After beating Los Angeles on Saturday to halt a five-game skid, the Predators made it two in a row with Tuesday's 6-4 decision against visiting Detroit. Colin Wilson posted two goals and an assist as Nashville outlasted the Red Wings at Bridgestone Arena.

Mike Fisher had a goal and two assists, while Nick Spaling, Craig Smith and Roman Josi all scored for the Predators. Marek Mazanec stopped 21 shots in the win.

"We found a way to shut it down and get the next one when we needed it," said Fisher. "That's a sign of a good team, to be able to keep up with those guys over there."

Nashville has lost its last two as the guest but hopes to end that slide tonight in the opener of a three-game road trip. The Preds are 8-10-1 as the visiting club this season.