News - GAMEDAY: Preds host Bruins, 7 PM - Nashville Predators
For the final Predators home game of 2006, the Boston Bruins make their first appearance in Nashville since March 9, 2004. The Predators are 5-1-0 vs. Eastern Conference opponents this season. This season the Bruins revitalized their lineup by bringing in a number of new faces via free agency, including point-producing center Marc Savard and towering defenseman Zdeno Chara. Boston is also getting solid production from homegrown talent like third-year forward Patrice Bergeron, who was taken by the Bruins in the second round of the 2003 NHL draft that was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. A host of former Predators grace the Bruins' roster, including Petr Tenkrat, Mark Mowers and Jason York.
The Bruins (19-13-3) have taken points out of their last five straight games (4-0-1) and are 5-1-1 in their last seven games overall. They come to Nashville on the heels of a 5-3 win in Chicago on Friday night. After taking a 5-0 lead, Boston held on for the victory as Chicago tallied three times in the third period. Tonight's game is the Bruins' last of the season outside of the Eastern time zone.
The Predators (25-10-3) enter tonight's game following a Friday night loss in Dallas. That was just the second defeat in nine games for Nashville. The Stars scored three power-play goals--including two back-breaking 5-on-3 tallies in the third period--and added an empty net goal for a 4-1 win at American Airlines Center. Antti Miettinen scored twice for the Stars, who overcame a first-period 1-0 lead for Nashville. Scott Hartnell scored the lone Predators goal and netminder Chris Mason was sensational in the loss, making a number of unbelievable saves to keep the game close through the first two periods.
Predators Notes: The Predators enter tonight's game two points ahead of the Detroit Red Wings in the Central Division... Nashville is 11-2-3 at the GEC this season... The Predators are 15-6 in one goal games, 17-1-3 when leading after two periods and 16-3-1 when scoring the first goal of the game this season... Last night was the first time in nine games the Predators did not score a power-play goal... Steve Sullivan is expected to skate in his 700th career NHL game tonight while Dan Hamhuis is expected to appear in his 200th career NHL contest... Chris Mason appeared in his 23rd game of the season last night at Dallas, tying his career-high in games played. He played in 23 games in 2005-06. Mason entered last night's games ranked second in the NHL in save percentage (.927), ninth in goals-against average (2.35) and was tied for eighth in shutouts (3). He is now 7-2-0 in his last nine starts and has started 17 straight games for Nashville, the second-longest streak in the NHL this season.