BSJ Game Report: Bruins 5, Predators 0 - Boston makes light work of Nashville

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 5-0 win over the Nashville Predators, with BSJ insight and analysis…

BOX SCORE 

HEADLINES

Boston sweep road trip: The Bruins picked up consecutive wins for the first time in nearly a month with a 5-0 win at the Nashville Predators on Thursday.

Patrice Bergeron had a goal and an assist, and linemates Brad Marchand and Craig Smith each scored for Boston (41-8-5). Hampus Lindholm and Nick Foligno each had two assists, while Jeremy Swayman made 30 saves for his second shutout of the season.

Juuse Saros made 25 saves for Nashville (25-21-6). 

Marchand opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game. Former Bruin Jeremy Lauzon got caught too low in the offensive zone as Boston went the other way on a 3-on-1, and Marchand buried a give-and-go with Bergeron. 

Smith doubled the lead 1:11 into the second when he threw a backhand on Saros, and Lauzon swept the rebound into his own net. 

Bergeron extended it to 3-0 on the power play, picking the top-right corner after Lindholm sprung him in all alone. It was Boston’s first power play goal since Jan. 24, ending an 0-for-21 stretch.

Derek Forbort made it 4-0 shortly after Bergeron when his shot from the left circle redirected in off Matthias Ekholm. Trent Frederic extended it to 5-0 with 6:13 left in regulation, finishing a feed in front from  Foligno off the rush. 

THREE UP

The top line: The trio of Marchand-Bergeron-Smith combined for three goals and four points. They were Boston’s best line by far, mowing through Nashville early on to put the game seemingly out of reach quickly. The line out-attempted the Predators 9-5 at even strength. 

Hampus Lindholm: The rangy blue-liner was instrumental in creating two goals for the Bruins tonight. There was the stretch pass to Bergeron in transition to snap the power play drought, and he led the rush on Frederic’s tally, showing patience before finding Foligno, who fed Frederic.

Jeremy Swayman: Swayman wasn’t tested often, but when Nashville did manage to create offense, he was strong. He denied the two high-danger shots the Preds created as well as all 11 medium-danger chances, besting his expected goals-against of 1.82, per Natural Stat Trick 

ONE DOWN

The Czech Line: There wasn’t much to dislike for Boston tonight, but in a game where the Bruins had their way with Nashville, the second line of Pavel Zacha, David Krejci and David Pastrnak was rather quiet, finishing with a Corsi-for of just 30.77 percent as a line. Individually, each ranked in the bottom-seven for Boston’s skaters, per Natural Stat Trick. Quiet nights happen, though, and it didn’t cost the Bruins in this one.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Lindholm’s stretch pass that led to Bergeron’s breakaway goal was just about as good as it gets, and Saros got caught cheating to his blocker side as he made it look easy on the shot.

LOOSE PUCKS

Derek Forbort set a new career-high for goals with his fifth of the season, beating his total (four) from last year

The Bruins’ siblings certainly brought the energy to Nashville, cowboy hats and all. 

With no goals to speak of for Nashville at the end of the second, whoever brought the catfish clearly had enough of waiting around with a smelly, slimy fish. 

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins return home to face the New York Islanders on Saturday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. at TD Garden.