Bruins Look to Bounce Back at Home Against Predators After OT Loss in New York
BOSTON - There’s no time to dwell in the NHL, especially when you’re staring down the second leg of a back-to-back. Less than 24 hours after a hard-fought 4-3 overtime loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, the Boston Bruins are back on home ice tonight, hosting the Nashville Predators at TD Garden with puck drop set for 7 p.m.
This marks the first of two meetings between the Bruins and Predators this season, with the return matchup coming March 5 in Nashville. But right now, Boston’s focus is squarely on tonight - and on securing two points they felt slipped away in Manhattan.
“I just hate not coming home with two points,” head coach Marco Sturm said after Monday’s loss. “But we take that one point.
I think it was up for grabs, and we just didn’t take that opportunity to do it, unfortunately. But we still feel good.
I think we’ve done a pretty good job as of late, and we want to continue to do that, especially at home.”
There’s no question the Bruins are trending in the right direction - even with the OT loss, they’ve been stringing together solid performances. The challenge now is to carry that momentum into a back-to-back scenario, where legs get heavy and depth becomes critical.
That’s where Mikey Eyssimont comes in. The forward will draw back into the lineup for the first time since January 11, replacing Alex Steeves. He’ll skate on the third line alongside Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov - a trio that brings a mix of energy, speed, and two-way potential.
Eyssimont’s return could be timely. His tenacity on the forecheck and ability to create space in the offensive zone could provide a spark against a Predators team that thrives on structure and physicality.
On the blue line, the Bruins continue to monitor the status of Nikita Zadorov, who missed Monday’s game due to injury. Henri Jokiharju stepped in on the second defensive pairing next to Andrew Peeke, and that duo held its own under pressure. Zadorov is considered a game-time decision tonight.
“He is going to try just like yesterday, and then we’ll see,” Sturm said.
If Zadorov can’t go, expect Jokiharju to reprise his role. His ability to step in and contribute without disrupting the defensive rhythm has been a quiet but important storyline for Boston’s depth this season.
The Bruins have made a habit of responding well after losses, and with home-ice advantage tonight, they’ll be looking to do just that. The Predators bring a physical, grinding style that can wear teams down, but Boston’s speed, structure, and ability to roll four lines could be the difference - especially if they get contributions from the middle six.
With the season heating up and playoff positioning starting to take shape, every point matters. The Bruins know that. Now it’s about executing - and making sure they don’t let another opportunity slip through their fingers.