NASHVILLE – It would have been quite a statement if the Boston Bruins could have taken one from a red-hot Predators group on home ice where they barely ever lose.
Alas, the Bruins didn’t get there despite showing some character in a highly entertaining game they eventually dropped by a score 5-3 to Nashville after a furious third-period comeback at Bridgestone Arena.
The Bruins got a quick chance on the opening shift when David Pastrnak found himself all alone in front with the puck, but Pekka Rinne somehow got a glove on Pastrnak’s bid after the winger went through his own legs before shooting.
After that, it was the Predators taking advantage of some shaky rebound control from Anton Khudobin, and some poor defensive zone play from Torey Krug. A big Khudobin rebound went straight to Craig Smith for Nashville’s first goal of the game, and then Smith scored again with just 18 seconds to go in the first after three Bruins players, including Krug, converged on the puck carrier in the defensive zone.
Nick Bonino scored on a loose puck in front in the second period, and then Kevin Fiala threw a wicked move on Zdeno Chara that twisted him all around before he threw a shot past Khudobin for Nashville’s fourth goal of the game. Khudobin was pulled from the game after that in favor of Tuukka Rask, who was playing in his fourth straight game after being benched for the previous four games in favor of his backup.
The Bruins scratched for a power play strike after that in the second period with Danton Heinen and Charlie McAvoy connecting for the Bruins defenseman’s fourth goal of the season. In the third they added another on a knuckling, bouncing point from Zdeno Chara that closed it to within two goals with 15 minutes to play.
David Pastrnak scored his 14th goal of the season shortly after that to close things to within a goal in the third period, but another defensive breakdown allowed Fillip Forsberg behind Boston’s top defensive pair for a breakaway score on Rask that iced things for Nashville.
