Berkshire Bank Faceoff: Projected Lines, Pairings For Bruins-Predators

The Boston Bruins will visit the Music City on Thursday night for game No. 5 of their season-long six-game road trip. Their opponent: the Nashville Predators, who have lost five of their last seven and are in danger of falling out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference.

The Bruins, meanwhile, are looking to close the gap between themselves and the Atlantic Division-leading Florida Panthers, who entered Thursday with 72 points to Boston’s 68.

The B’s have taken care of business thus far on their trip, scoring wins over the Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets, and falling to the Detroit Red Wings by a goal in a wild game that featured 11 of them.

Here’s a look at Thursday’s projected lines and pairings, as reported by the teams:

BOSTON BRUINS (31-20-6)
Brad Marchand — Patrice Bergeron — Brett Connolly
Matt Beleskey — David Krejci — David Pastrnak
Loui Eriksson — Ryan Spooner — Jimmy Hayes
Landon Ferraro — Joonas Kemppainen — Tyler Randell

Zdeno Chara — Zach Trotman
Torey Krug — Adam McQuaid
Dennis Seidenberg — Kevan Miller

Tuukka Rask

NASHVILLE PREDATORS (26-21-10)
Calle Jarnkrok — Ryan Johansen — James Neal
Filip Forsberg — Mike Ribeiro — Craig Smith
Colin Wilson — Mike Fisher — Viktor Arvidsson
Miikka Salomaki — Paul Gaustad — Austin Watson

Roman Josi — Shea Weber
Mattias Ekholm — Ryan Ellis
Barret Jackman — Anthony Bitetto

Pekka Rinne

Thumbnail photo via Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports Images