Nashville @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 22, 2018 ) Nashville 2, Boston 5

Even before the Boston Bruins hit a rut in which they have won only once in two weeks, opponents are finding the path to beating the Atlantic Division leaders -- extend the game beyond regulation. The Bruins have lost only once in regulation at TD Garden but have dropped four straight at home entering Saturday's clash versus the visiting Nashville Predators.

Boston's struggles continued in Thursday's 3-2 shootout loss to the New York Islanders, its seventh defeat in eight games (1-4-3). “I think we need to really get back to hating to lose because when you hate to lose, the more you don't accept these outcomes and the way we are playing,” defenseman Torey Krug said after his team fell to 2-8 beyond regulation, including 0-5 in shootouts. The Predators are coming off a 5-4 overtime defeat at Ottawa, but they were happy to snag a point after erasing a three-goal deficit in the third period. “It's a huge point for us, but at the same time, we've got to realize that we have to play for 60 minutes," captain Roman Josi after Nashville improved to 2-0-1 entering the final stop of a four-game road trip.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (16-12-6): Josi has scored four times during a three-game goal streak, netting the tying tally with a spectacular rush in which he weaved through Ottawa's entire team to boost his season total to 11 -- four short of his career high. "He's really coming into his own, and he's a joy to play with and a joy to watch," defenseman Ryan Ellis said. "He's our captain for a reason." Viktor Arvidsson or Mikael Granlund could be set to rejoin the lineup after Yakov Trenin was sent to the minors Friday.

ABOUT THE BRUINS (21-7-8): It's not that Boston is giving up goals in buckets -- it has allowed more than three in regulation only twice in 13 games -- but coach Bruce Cassidy is upset with the team's attention to detail in its own end. "I don’t think there’s been enough of that, to be honest with you," Cassidy said. "You talk about urgency, to keep it out of our net. You can’t say, ‘Oh, I’m going to wait for May to do that.’ It’s who you are, it’s in your DNA." Leading scorer Brad Marchand is mired in an 11-game goal drought.

OVERTIME

1. Bruins F David Pastrnak, who has an NHL-best 28 goals, has three tallies and as many assists in six games versus Nashville.

2. Predators G Pekka Rinne, who has allowed at least three goals in eight of his last nine starts, is 6-3-1 with two shutouts versus Boston.

3. The Bruins last lost four in a row at home since October 2015.

PREDICTION: Bruins 3, Predators 2