The Nashville Predators are hitting the road for a critical three-game swing, and it starts tonight in Boston with a 6 p.m. CT puck drop against the Bruins at TD Garden.
It’s the first of two meetings between these two clubs this season, with the Bruins making the return trip to Nashville in March. But right now, it’s all about getting back on track-and fast.
Coming off a tough homestand that saw them go just 1-2, including a 5-2 loss to Utah on Saturday, the Preds have now dropped three of their last four. With only six games left before the Olympic break, this road trip isn’t just another stretch on the schedule-it’s a proving ground. The Predators are still in the playoff hunt, but they need to start stacking points now if they want to stay in that conversation.
“These are huge games,” said Ryan O’Reilly after Saturday’s loss. And he’s not wrong.
“We have to show that we are a playoff team. It's a great opportunity for us.
This is going to be a big part of our season here, what we can do, and it starts with a good first game. We need to respond.
I need to respond. The whole group needs to respond and get back to us… This group, it's a great group of guys, and we will respond.”
That sense of urgency was echoed by Head Coach Andrew Brunette, who didn’t mince words about the team’s recent performances. “You wish for a good start, and we have a sloppy finish,” he said.
“Too many passengers in a big game, which is a little bit disappointing. But we’ve just got to rebound.
We go back on the road where I think we've played pretty well, especially lately, and a good opportunity for us to grab it here and win next week.”
The Preds will be without defenseman Nic Hague, who’s week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Adam Wilsby returned to the lineup in Hague’s absence, while forward Tyson Jost also re-entered the mix. Fedor Svechkov was the lone healthy scratch on Saturday.
Who's Hot for the Preds
O’Reilly continues to be the heartbeat of this team, leading the way with 50 points (18 goals, 32 assists). Filip Forsberg is right behind him with 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists), while Steven Stamkos leads the team in goals with 25 and has 37 total points.
Luke Evangelista has been quietly effective, racking up 30 assists and matching Stamkos with 37 points. In net, Juuse Saros is 20-17-3 on the season, while backup Justus Annunen sits at 4-6-1.
Scouting the Bruins
Boston comes into tonight’s game after an overtime loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden-a rare blemish in what’s been a strong January for the B’s. That was just their third loss of the month.
David Pastrnak, who had three assists in that game, continues to drive Boston’s offense with 67 points (21 goals, 46 assists). Morgan Geekie has been a breakout story, leading the team with 29 goals and totaling 48 points.
Pavel Zacha has chipped in 14 goals and 36 points. Between the pipes, Jeremy Swayman is 20-12-2, while Joonas Korpisalo, who played last night, is 10-8-1.
Head-to-Head History
Nashville is 17-18-(1)-3 all-time against Boston, including a 6-9-(1)-3 record at TD Garden. The recent history is a mixed bag: 4-5-1 in the last 10 meetings, but the Preds have had some success in Boston lately, going 3-1-1 in their last five visits to the Garden.
Players to Watch
- Filip Forsberg is heating up again, with eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) in his last five games. That includes two three-point nights-one in Colorado on Jan. 16 and another against Buffalo earlier this week.
- Ryan O’Reilly has been consistently productive, with 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) over his last 26 games.
- Luke Evangelista has 27 points (5 goals, 22 assists) in his last 29 games, quietly becoming a key playmaker.
- Steven Stamkos is still finding the back of the net with regularity, tallying 21 goals and 32 points in his last 29 outings.
Milestone Watch
- Roman Josi is just two goals shy of hitting 200 for his NHL career.
- Jonathan Marchessault is closing in on 300 career assists-he’s five away.
- Brady Skjei needs four more points to reach 300 for his career.
Quick Note of Trivia
Here’s a quirky bit of Predators history: aside from waiver claims, Boston remains the only team Nashville has never completed a trade with since entering the league in 1998. The only transaction between the two came during the Expansion Draft, when Nashville selected center Mike Sullivan.
How to Watch
Coverage kicks off at 5:30 p.m. CT with the *Predators LIVE!
- pregame show on FanDuel Sports Network South, hosted by Lyndsay Rowley. Willy Daunic and Chris Mason will have the call on TV, while Max Herz and Hal Gill bring you the action on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network.
Final Thought
With the Olympic break looming and playoff positioning tightening, this road trip could define the Predators’ season. It starts tonight in Boston-a tough building, a tough opponent, and a perfect test for a team that knows it needs to respond.