Bruins put home win streak on line vs. Predators
With two feet of snow on the ground and bitter cold in the air outside, the Boston Bruins look to keep turning up the heat inside TD Garden as they go for their eighth straight home win on Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators.
Boston will be playing the second game of a back-to-back following a 4-3 overtime loss to the host New York Rangers on Monday, only the Bruins' second defeat in a 10-game span (8-1-1).
Elias Lindholm scored twice, Morgan Geekie added his fourth goal in as many games and David Pastrnak had three assists -- including his 900th career point -- for Boston, but the Eastern Conference-worst Rangers rallied from a 3-2 deficit to tie and win the game.
"I thought we gave away a point that was just unnecessary," Bruins coach Marco Sturm said. "We didn't play our best game overall, but we had the lead in the third period and didn't decide that we had to grind it out, unfortunately, for 60 minutes."
For now, it is just one loss. The Bruins want to make sure it does not turn into two or more like during a 2-5-2 stretch before their current run.
Boston has gone more than a month since its last home loss, last falling to Montreal 6-2 on Dec. 23. Before the quick trip to New York, the Bruins got back at the Canadiens in a 4-3 home win on Saturday.
"We've been trending in the right direction," Geekie said. "Nights like (Monday) are going to happen, but it's (about) how we respond. Like everyone says, the beauty of this league is that we have to do it again (Tuesday), so just be ready to go at 7:00 against a good team."
Monday was still a milestone night for Pastrnak. The 29-year-old is not only riding a seven-game point streak (two goals, 10 assists), but he also passed Rick Middleton (898 points) for sixth on the Bruins' all-time scoring list.
"He's an incredible player," Geekie said of Pastrnak. "Obviously, 900 points is an incredible achievement, and he's nowhere near time. I'm so glad I could be along for the ride."
Nashville has been idle since taking a 5-2 loss on Saturday against the Utah Mammoth, the team it sits directly behind in the Central Division and the Western Conference wild-card race.
Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault scored for the Predators, who led 1-0 after the first period before allowing three straight goals en route to their third loss in four games since a three-game win streak. They are 5-5-0 in their past 10 games.
"We had a good start, and (Juuse Saros) made some great saves to keep us in it, and the second period got away from us," Predators alternate captain Ryan O'Reilly said. "We have to be better. Disappointing loss. It's the team we're chasing right in the mix. We've got to reset and get ready for this road trip."
Stamkos has scored 19 of his 25 goals since Dec. 1.
O'Reilly had a six-game point streak (five goals, eight assists) snapped against Utah.
The Tuesday game in Boston is the start of a three-game road trip for Nashville, which is 10-11-2 away from home. Visits to the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders follow.
"We've done a good job rebounding, and the challenges are going to be even harder on the road," Predators coach Andrew Brunette said. "We go back on the road where I think we've played pretty well, especially lately, and a good opportunity for us to grab it here and win (the) week."
Nashville remains without defenseman Nicolas Hague due to a week-to-week lower-body injury. Adam Wilsby, who had been out with his own lower-body ailment, returned to take Hague's spot in the lineup.