Boston @ Nashville preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 21, 2019 ) Nashville 4, Boston 3

With the Nashville Predators sitting only one point out of the basement in the Central Division, team management decided a shake-up was in order and made a change behind the bench. Peter Laviolette was fired Monday night after five-plus seasons and the Predators did not immediately name a replacement in advance of Tuesday's game against the visiting Boston Bruins.

Laviolette guided Nashville to back-to-back division titles the previous two seasons and to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2016-17, but he and assistant Kevin McCarthy were shown the door with the club only four points out of a wild card. "Under the leadership of Peter and Kevin, our organization reached unprecedented heights," general manger David Poile said in a statement. "Their passion for the game, ability to motivate a team and drive to be the best makes this a difficult decision." While the Predators were not expected to name a replacement until Tuesday morning, the Atlantic Division-leading Bruins arrive in Nashville with troubles of their own, having won only four of their last 15 games (4-5-6). “I think we stick with the game plan and trust what we have in here," center David Krejci said. "The season is long. We knew we were going to go through some rough patch at some point this year and seems like we are in it right now."

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: NESN, FS Tennessee

ABOUT THE BRUINS (24-8-11): David Pastrnak notched his league-high 31st goal in Saturday's 4-1 home loss to Edmonton to extend his point streak to 10 games. However, other than the top line of Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, Boston has struggled offensively, scoring more than three goals only twice in 19 games. “We know the goals aren’t coming easily, so you know it’s gonna be, every goal matters," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "I think that’s in everybody’s head. It’s just the stretch we’re in right now.”

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (19-15-7): Nashville scored twice in the third period before suffering a 5-4 shootout loss at Anaheim on Sunday, leading to some critical comments from forward Craig Smith. "Sometimes maybe we overthink our system and ... sit back on our heels," Smith said. "In the third I think we just said (bleep) it; let's get after it a little bit. Read and react. Just play hockey, making hockey plays. That's what we did." Smith continued his binge by scoring twice Sunday to give him eight goals in nine games.

OVERTIME

1. Pastrnak and Marchand are the first Boston teammates to reach 60 points before the team's 45th game since Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito (1974-75).

2. Predators captain Roman Josi had 18 points during a 10-game streak, including two goals in a 4-3 OT win at Boston on Dec. 21.

3. Bruins F Joakim Nordstrom did not travel to the team to Nashville due to illness.

PREDICTION: Bruins 3, Predators 2