Image result for boston Bruins vs nashville predators"(Photo Credits: Getty Images/ John Russell)

By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on  Twitter @pastagrl88
There’s nothing like playing in front of family and for many of the Bruins, they had the opportunity to showcase in front of one of the most important people in their lives. Serving as their life-long cheerleaders, many of the players’ mothers were in attendance tonight as part of the annual Moms Trip that started on Monday.  With the group watching their sons and brothers on the ice, the Bruins defeated Nashville, breaking their three-game losing slump.

GAME RECAP

In front of a loud “Smashville” crowd and with new coach John Hynes behind the Nashville bench,  the Black and Gold came out of the gates and it didn’t take long for the Bruins to get on board. Early in the first period, the red-hot David Pastrnak slapped his 32nd goal past Predators goalie Pekka Rinne to make the score 1-0.

SCORE: BOS-1, NSH-0

SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-13, NSH-8

Image result for boston bruins vs nashville predators"(Photo Credits: AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

An interesting start to second saw the hockey gods smile on Boston as a potential goal was waved off for the Predators. As officials reviewed the play (twice), it was determined there was no goal as Nashville made contact with defenseman Charlie McAvoy that caused him to dislodge the net prior to the puck going in.
Nashville found themselves down  Boston zone for a good portion of the period as they peppered Tuukka Rask, forcing the Bruins to continue to keep bouncing pucks from going in. The Preds continued to outshoot Boston, however, it would be the boys in Black and Gold that would net one in Nashville’s goal. With a quick pass from Matt Grzelcyk, Danton Heinen would score his seventh of the season at 8:21 into the second.

The Predators would get on board on a 5-on-3 as Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzelcyk both went to the penalty box. Filip Forsberg would score his 15th goal of the season.  With minutes left in the period and with Boston on the power-play, the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron would net his 18th of the season, making the score 3-1.

SCORE: BOS-3, NSH-1

SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS- 26 NSH-24

Image result for boston bruins vs nashville predators"(Photo Credits: USA Today Sports/ Christopher Hanewinckel)

Minutes into the third period, Boston would once again score as Chris Wagner was nudged into the Nashville net, sending the puck past Rinne. He would net his fourth of the season. Zdeno Chara, who had recent jaw surgery, dropped gloves with Nashville’s Yakov Trenin (his first NHL career fight) after a hit on McAvoy, leading the Bruins to the kill. The Preds would once again find themselves with a 5-on-3 advantage but were unable to score.
With a little over a minute left, Nashville’s Mikael Granlund would score on the power-play, making it 4-2.  David Krejci would score on an empty net at the 54-second mark. Charlie Coyle would add salt to the wound as he tapped the puck in the net, winning in regulation.
Boston improves to 25-8-11 while Nashville is 19-16. The Bruins lead the Atlantic Division and are second in the league; Nashville sits at sixth place in the Central Division.

FINAL SCORE: BOS-6, NSH-2

TOTAL SHOTS ON GOAL: BOS-36 NSH-30

WHAT’S NEXT:  Thursday, January 9th with puck drop @ 7:00 pm vs. Winnipeg Jets. NESN, TVAS

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