Final, Predators 4-3 (OT): The Bruins get a point, but take another loss as Shea Weber ends it with a power-play goal at 3:37 of overtime.
The Bruins were shorthanded after Steven Kampfer was called for holding when he tackled Mike Fisher in the corner with 2:01 left. Weber took advantage with a blast from the center of the ice just inside the blue line off a feed by Ryan Suter.
The Bruins' lead in the Northeast Division is down to three points as Montreal beat Tampa Bay 3-2 in a shootout. Boston ends its four-game road trip Saturday in Toronto.
End Regulation, 3-3: This one won't be settled in regulation, as the Bruins and Predators head to overtime tied 3-3.
McQuaid did return in the final minutes after taking that stick to the face.
Third Period, 16:09, 3-3: Adam McQuaid is down hurt in the Bruins' crease, holding his face after taking a stick up high from Nashville's Matt Halischuk, but no penalty is called on the play.
Third Period, 14:52, 3-3: The Bruins mount a threat with a bid from Chris Kelly in close at the left post, but it remains tied with less than five minutes left in regulation.
Third Period, 10:56, 3-3: The Bruins come up empty on yet another power play, and Nashville scores right out of the box to tie it again.
Erat had the breakaway out of the box, but Rask saved that bid,a s well as Kostitsyn's follow up. But he couldn't get David Legwand's third-chance bid as the Bruins completely left their goalie out to dry on that play.
Third Period, 8:46, Bruins 3-2: The Bruins have a chance to extend the lead with a power play, as Martin Erat goes off for high-sticking Bergeron.
Third Period, 7:59, Bruins 3-2: The first bit of nastiness since Hornqvist's elbow on Seguin as Steven Kampfer and Blake Geoffrion exchange face-washes and shoves behind the net after Rask ties up the puck. No penalties called in the brief scrum.
Third Period, 6:11, Bruins 3-2: The Bruins nearly get an insurance goal as Krejci steals a pass from Shea Weber and sets up Peverley for a chance, but Rinne makes the save.
Third Period, 1:42, Bruins 3-2: The Bruins pull ahead again as Patrice Bergeron ends his drought with a goal from between the circles.
Bergeron took a pass from Mark Recchi from the right boards and fired a shot inside the left post.
Third Period, 0:00, 2-2: The final frame is under way, with the Bruins and Predators both looking to pull this one out in the third after a very even opening 40 minutes.
Second Intermission Notes: This one is about as even as a game can get. Beyond the 2-2 score, the shots are also even at 21-21, with Nashville holding a 12-9 edge in the second after Boston held an identical 12-9 advantage in the first. Even the hits are even at 10-10.
It was good to see Tyler Seguin return in the second after taking an elbow from Patric Hornqvist late in the first. But Seguin has had a relatively quiet night after his early goal. He still has no other shots in 7:49 of ice time.
The Bruins' power play continues to struggle, going 0 for 3 so far, including a five-minute man-advantage after Hornqvist's elbowing major. Nashville came into this game averaging a league-low 8.8 penalty minutes a game, but they already have 17 in this one.
End Second Period, 2-2: The Bruins and Predators exchanged goals in the second and will head to the third period deadlocked again in this one.
Second Period, 19:04, 2-2: David Krejci nearly gets another with a chance in front in transition, but Rinne makes the save.
Second Period, 13:33, 2-2: The Bruins do answer, with David Krejci banging home a rebound at the left post to tie it again.
Nathan Horton launched the first shot from the right circle. Rinne stopped that one, but the rebound went right to Krejci, who drove it home from the left side. Milan Lucic gets the secondary assist as all three members of the top line pick up points on the play.
Second Period, 12:20, Predators 2-1: The Bruins try to answer with the fourth line supplying some pressure. A turnaround shot by Paille in the high slot tests Rinne, but he makes the stop.
Second Period, 10:59, Predators 2-1: The Predators take their first lead as former Boston University star Colin Wilson scores from the left wing.
That's one Rask will probably want back as Wilson beats him inside the near post from the left circle.
Second Period, 9:16, 1-1: The Bruins complete the kill and are back at full strength. That could be a key momentum turner in this one if the Bruins can capitalize now.
Second Period, 8:04, 1-1: The Bruins kill off the first penalty and Ryder is sent in on a clean breakaway right out of the box, only to be robbed by Rinne with a glove save.
Second Period, 7:16, 1-1: The Bruins are now facing a huge penalty kill, as Daniel Paille is called for holding and Boston will be down two men for 40 seconds. Nashville uses its timeout to set up the 5-on-3 power play.
Second Period, 5:56, 1-1: It's the Bruins' turn to be shorthanded now as Michael Ryder is sent off for interference as he tries to get back on defense, but tackled Jordin Tootoo into the Boston net.
Second Period, 2:30, 1-1: The Bruins had some decent looks at that power play, but once again fail to convert even with an extended five-minute man-advantage.
Second Period, 0:00, 1-1: The second period is under way, with the Bruins still on the power play. Tyler Seguin is back on the bench, so that's a good sign for Boston.
First Intermission Notes: Tyler Seguin had an eventful opening period, scoring his first goal in nine games early, then leaving late after getting elbowed by Patric Hornqvist.
Hornqvist was given an elbowing major and a game misconduct, and the Bruins will have another 2:30 left on the power play to start the second. The bigger concern is for Seguin, who headed to the locker room to be checked out after the play.
In addition to Seguin, who had no other shots and one giveaway in 3:37 in the first, the Bruins created plenty of chances in the first. They had a 12-9 edge in shots, with Milan Lucic collecting three plus another that hit the crossbar with just over a minute left in the period.
Adam McQuaid, already banged up with a sore foot from blocking so many shots, blocked two more in the first.
End First Period, 1-1: The teams will head into the first intermission deadlocked at 1-1. The Bruins will start the second with the second half of their five-minute major after nearly scoring late in the first when Milan Lucic sent one off the crossbar with just over a minute left.
First Period, 17:30, 1-1: The Bruins will get an extended power play here, as Patric Hornqvist is given a five-minute major for elbowing after taking a run at Seguin.
Seguin appeared shaken up and headed to the locker room. Hornqvist also gets a game misconduct and is gone for the night.
First Period, 15:13, 1-1: The Bruins kill off that chance, with Peverley nearly getting a chance at another shorthanded goal after scoring one in the third period on Tuesday.
First Period, 13:13, 1-1: The Bruins again get hemmed in by the Predators in the Boston zone with a mad scramble around the net. Rask keeps the puck out, but Nashville goes on the power play as Adam mcQuaid is sent off for interference.
First Period, 10:23, 1-1: Still not much going well for the Bruins on the power play, as they fail to generate any serious threats on that opportunity.
First Period, 8:23, 1-1: Kostitsyn goes from hero to goat as he's called for interference less than a minute after scoring, and the Bruins have the first power-play chance of the night.
First Period, 7:53, 1-1: Nashville answers back to tie it with former Canadien Sergei Kostitsyn scoring out of a scramble in front as the Bruins get caught running around a bit in their own zone.
First Period, 4:52, Bruins 1-0: Ryder with a nice cut to the middle for a bid from the slot, and Steven Kampfer also has a chance pinching in deep at the left post, but Rinne holds the fort to keep it a one-goal game.
First Period, 4:22, Bruins 1-0: Michael Ryder returns to the lineup on a line with Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi. The third line features Seguin with Peverley and Chris Kelly.
First Period, 1:50, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins strike first early as Tyler Seguin makes a statement that he wants to stay in the lineup with a highlight-reel goal.
Rich Peverley feed it up to Seguin with a pass off the boards and Seguin did the rest with a perfectly-placed shot from the left slot over Rinne's glove to the far top corner.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: And they're under way in Nashville, where the Bruins will look to win their second straight after snapping a four-game losing streak Tuesday in Columbus.
8 p.m.: Both teams will go with their top lines to start this one, as Boston opens with Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Nathan Horton up front, Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk on defense and Tuukka Rask in goal.
Nashvulle counters with Martin Erat, David Legwand and Patric Hornqvist up front, Shea Weber and Ryan Suter on the blue line and Pekka Rinne in net.
7:55 p.m.: Andrew Ference (lower body) will remain out for another game for the Bruins, who do not have any healthy scratches in this game. Brad Marchand is out up front serving the first game of his two-game suspension.
Joel Ward (lower body) remains out for Nashville, which also doesn't have any healthy scratches to make.
7:45 p.m.: This is a big one for both teams. The Bruins will look to extend their lead in the Northeast Division on Montreal. Boston is up by four points with a game in hand. The Canadiens host Tampa Bay tonight.
Nashville can leap over both Anaheim and Calgary for the final playoff spot in the West with a win. The Predators trail both the Ducks, who are off tonight, and the Flames, who host Colorado, by a point.
7:30 p.m.: Looks like Tuukka Rask will get a second straight start after a strong performance in Columbus on Tuesday.
Rask led the Bruins onto the ice for warm-ups in Nashville, indicating he'll get the nod in this one. Pekka Rinne will start for the Predators.
7:15 p.m.: The Bruins will continue their road trip in less than an hour when they take on the Predators in Nashville.
But Boston will do it without forward Brad Marchand, who was suspended two games earlier Thursday for his hit to the head of Columbus forward R.J. Umberger on Tuesday.
With Marchand out, Michael Ryder will return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the first time in his three seasons in Boston on Tuesday.
8 a.m.: The Bruins finally snapped their season-worst four-game losing streak Tuesday by winning in Columbus for the first time since 2003. On Thursday, they'll look to start a win streak in another city that hasn't witnessed a Bruins victory since before the owners' lockout.
Boston last won in Nashville back on March 9, 2004. The Bruins have only played there twice since, but they do seem to enjoy spending holidays in the Music City. Their last visit came on Valentine's Day in 2009, when Boston fell 3-2 in a shootout, and now they return on St. Patrick's Day.
While Boston looks to strengthen its hold on the top spot in the Northeast Division, where the Bruins currently lead Montreal by four points with a game in hand on the Habs, Nashville is just trying to get into a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Predators are currently ninth in the West, one point behind Calgary for the final postseason berth.
The Predators are coming off a 4-2 loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday, but they were on a 4-1-2 roll before that. They don't possess much star power up front, with Patric Hornqvist leading the team with just 18 goals and defenseman Shea Weber leading in points with 15-28-43 totals. That would have him tied for sixth on the Bruins, who have three 20-goal scorers already, led by Milan Lucic with 29.
Nashville does have a well-balanced attack with 10 players with 10-plus goals, though even there the Bruins have the Predators beat with 12 players in double digits for goals already.
Neither team will have an easy time adding to those totals in this game, as it could feature the top two goalies in the league in both goals-against average and save percentage. Boston's Tim Thomas leads the NHL with a 2.03 GAA and .938 save percentage to go along with a 29-9-8 record and seven shutouts. Nashville's Pekka Rinne is right behind him with a 2.09 GAA and .929 save percentage, though he is just 25-20-8 with six shutouts.
The Bruins got defenseman Steven Kampfer back on Tuesday after he missed four games with a concussion. Fellow blueliner Andrew Ference is also close to returning from a lower-body injury and could be back for this game.
Up front, Michael Ryder was a healthy scratch for the first time as a Bruin on Tuesday, with Tyler Seguin returning to action and scoring the only goal in the shootout. The Bruins might have no choice but to insert Ryder back into the lineup on Thursday however, as Brad Marchand faces a possible suspension. Marchand has a disciplinary hearing with the league at noon on Thursday for an elbow to the back of the head of Columbus forward R.J. Umberger on Tuesday.
The puck drops at 8 p.m., so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action.
