GDT: Bruins @ Predators - 12/30/2006 - 7:00pm CST

PredDave · 12-30-2006, 12:41 PM

PREDATORS VS BRUINS

• Where: the HOP.

• When: 7 p.m.

• TV: Fox Sports Net.

• Radio: 104.5-FM.

• Season series: First meeting.

• Predators story line: Scott Hartnell scored his team-leading 15th goal of the season on Friday. Hartnell also leads the team in power-play goals and shots. … The Predators have won seven of their last nine games. … Nashville's power-play goal streak ended at eight consecutive games after it failed to score on the man-advantage against Dallas. … Center Vern Fiddler (shoulder) is expected return to the lineup for the first time since Dec. 16.

• Bruins story line: Backup goaltender Hannu Toivonen is expected to get the start against the Predators. Toivonen has not played since losing against Montreal Dec. 12 and has appeared in just two NHL games since Nov. 4. … C Patrice Bergeron had a nine-game scoring streak heading into Friday night's game in Chicago. … C Mark Savard leads the Bruins with 45 points.

• Predators injuries: RW Scottie Upshall (groin) and G Tomas Vokoun (thumb) are out, and C Vern Fiddler (shoulder) is probable.

• Bruins injuries: C Phil Kessel (cancer surgery) is out

PredDave · 12-30-2006, 12:42 PM

Boston (19-13-3) at Nashville (25-10-3)

NHL - Boston Bruins/Nashville Predators Preview Saturday December 30, 2006 - Yahoo! Sports

The Boston Bruins are trying to separate themselves from the middle of a tight Northeast Division.

Boston (19-13-3) looks for its second straight road win as it meets the Nashville Predators on Saturday at the HOP.

PredDave · 12-30-2006, 12:51 PM

Boston Bruins: The Bruins lost Jeff Hoggan to an undisclosed injury when the winger tripped and slammed into the end boards in the first period. Hoggan will be reassessed Saturday morning. If he can't play, Yan Stastny (healthy scratch Friday) would most likely dress in his place. Goaltender Hannu Toivonen is expected to get the start against the Predators. - Boston Globe

PredDave · 12-30-2006, 06:57 PM

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.

PredDave · 12-30-2006, 09:15 PM

Legwand, Weber, and Tootoo have scored to make it 3-0 halfway through the game!

Go Preds!

PredDave · 12-30-2006, 09:34 PM

goal #3 was given to Smithson (assisted by Tootoo)

goal #4 by Kariya!!!

40 minutes in the books and its 4-0....

PredDave · 12-30-2006, 09:58 PM

Taco time in Tennessee!

its 5-0...

goal from Vasicek (Tootoo with his 2nd assist of the evening)

PredDave · 12-31-2006, 02:02 AM

Great game tonight for the bi-polar Preds...

good effort after a devastating loss to Dallas just last night.

The Predators are 7-1-1 in the second game of back-to-backs this year.

Nashville is 6-1 against the Eastern Conference teams (only loss to Buffalo) and outscoring the East 25-13.

PredDave · 12-31-2006, 02:03 AM

NHL - Boston Bruins/Nashville Predators Recap Saturday December 30, 2006 - Yahoo! Sports

One day soon Nashville Predators goaltender Chris Mason will once again be the backup. Meanwhile, he's making the most of his time in the net.

Mason stopped 38 shots Saturday night in a 5-0 victory over the Boston Bruins that gave him his fourth shutout of the season, a career high.

He entered the game ranked second in the NHL in save percentage and ninth in goals-against average. The victory over Boston was his 18th consecutive start for the Predators, the second longest streak in the league.

But when Tomas Vokoun returns to health in the next couple of weeks, Mason will have to move over to make room in the net.

"I just love playing hockey," Mason said. "I don't worry about the numbers too much. If you have a bad game it just really consumes so much of your thoughts. I love the opportunity I have right now. I'm just trying to take advantage of it."

12-30-2006, 12:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	GDT: Bruins @ Predators - 12/30/2006 - 7:00pm CST PREDATORS VS BRUINS • Where: the HOP. • When: 7 p.m. • TV: Fox Sports Net. • Radio: 104.5-FM. • Season series: First meeting. • Predators story line: Scott Hartnell scored his team-leading 15th goal of the season on Friday. Hartnell also leads the team in power-play goals and shots. … The Predators have won seven of their last nine games. … Nashville's power-play goal streak ended at eight consecutive games after it failed to score on the man-advantage against Dallas. … Center Vern Fiddler (shoulder) is expected return to the lineup for the first time since Dec. 16. • Bruins story line: Backup goaltender Hannu Toivonen is expected to get the start against the Predators. Toivonen has not played since losing against Montreal Dec. 12 and has appeared in just two NHL games since Nov. 4. … C Patrice Bergeron had a nine-game scoring streak heading into Friday night's game in Chicago. … C Mark Savard leads the Bruins with 45 points. • Predators injuries: RW Scottie Upshall (groin) and G Tomas Vokoun (thumb) are out, and C Vern Fiddler (shoulder) is probable. • Bruins injuries: C Phil Kessel (cancer surgery) is out

12-30-2006, 12:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Boston (19-13-3) at Nashville (25-10-3) NHL - Boston Bruins/Nashville Predators Preview Saturday December 30, 2006 - Yahoo! Sports The Boston Bruins are trying to separate themselves from the middle of a tight Northeast Division. Boston (19-13-3) looks for its second straight road win as it meets the Nashville Predators on Saturday at the HOP.

12-30-2006, 12:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Boston Bruins: The Bruins lost Jeff Hoggan to an undisclosed injury when the winger tripped and slammed into the end boards in the first period. Hoggan will be reassessed Saturday morning. If he can't play, Yan Stastny (healthy scratch Friday) would most likely dress in his place. Goaltender Hannu Toivonen is expected to get the start against the Predators. - Boston Globe

12-30-2006, 06:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	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.

12-30-2006, 09:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Legwand, Weber, and Tootoo have scored to make it 3-0 halfway through the game! Go Preds!

12-30-2006, 09:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	goal #3 was given to Smithson (assisted by Tootoo) goal #4 by Kariya!!! 40 minutes in the books and its 4-0....

12-30-2006, 09:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Taco time in Tennessee! its 5-0... goal from Vasicek (Tootoo with his 2nd assist of the evening)

12-31-2006, 02:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Great game tonight for the bi-polar Preds... good effort after a devastating loss to Dallas just last night. The Predators are 7-1-1 in the second game of back-to-backs this year. Nashville is 6-1 against the Eastern Conference teams (only loss to Buffalo) and outscoring the East 25-13.

12-31-2006, 02:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	NHL - Boston Bruins/Nashville Predators Recap Saturday December 30, 2006 - Yahoo! Sports One day soon Nashville Predators goaltender Chris Mason will once again be the backup. Meanwhile, he's making the most of his time in the net. Mason stopped 38 shots Saturday night in a 5-0 victory over the Boston Bruins that gave him his fourth shutout of the season, a career high. He entered the game ranked second in the NHL in save percentage and ninth in goals-against average. The victory over Boston was his 18th consecutive start for the Predators, the second longest streak in the league. But when Tomas Vokoun returns to health in the next couple of weeks, Mason will have to move over to make room in the net. "I just love playing hockey," Mason said. "I don't worry about the numbers too much. If you have a bad game it just really consumes so much of your thoughts. I love the opportunity I have right now. I'm just trying to take advantage of it."