Bruins Live Blog: Tyler Seguin, Patrice Bergeron Score in Shootout to Lift B’s to 4-3 Win Over Predators at Garden

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Feb 11, 2012

Bruins Live Blog: Tyler Seguin, Patrice Bergeron Score in Shootout to Lift B's to 4-3 Win Over Predators at GardenFinal, Bruins 4-3 (win shootout 2-0): The Bruins pull out the victory as Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron each score in the shootout and Tim Thomas stopped the only two shooters he had to face.

After David Krejci was denied, Seguin scored on a backhander top shelf and Bergeron slipped one through the 5-hole.

Thomas stopped Sergei Kostitsyn with some help from the post and made a pad save on Martin Erat before Bergeron clinched the win.

It was a strong effort from the Bruins after Wednesday's season-worst 6-0 loss in Buffalo, but it won't get any easier as next up is a visit from the East-leading Rangers on Tuesday.

End Overtime, 3-3: Overtime didn't produce a winner, so this one will be settled in a shootout.

The Bruins finish with a 41-22 edge in shots, but both teams managed three goals in 65 minutes.

Overtime, 4:44, 3-3: The Bruins use their timeout now with another offensive zone faceoff coming up. Brad Marchand got behind the defense for a pass from Chara, but Weber reached just enough to get a piece of his shot from the right circle to deflect it out of play.

Overtime, 4:19, 3-3: The Predators ice the puck in the final minute, and Bergeron comes out for a huge offensive-zone faceoff.

Overtime, 2:12, 3-3: The Predators use their timeout as the Bruins have regained the momentum. Boston leading 40-21 in shots, but it's all even where it matters most on the scoreboard.

Overtime, 0:00, 3-3: The extra session is under way with a five-minute sudden death period to try to settle this one without the need for a shootout.

End Regulation, 3-3: The Bruins nearly scored the winner in a mad scramble in front in the final minute, but this one will go to overtime.

Third Period, 18:53, 3-3: The Bruins take advantage of the power play as Milan Lucic ties the game yet again.

Rich Peverley had the initial shot from the slot, and Lucic pounced on the rebound at the right post and roofed it for his 20th of the year.

Third Period, 17:42, Predators 3-2: The Bruins will get a power-play chance to try to tie this up as Sergei Kostitsyn is sent off for tripping.

Third Period, 16:28, Predators 3-2: The Predators pull ahead on a great play by Mike Fisher.

Fisher carried the puck down the left wing and tried to pass it out front from the goal line. That pass didn't connect, but he went around the net and came out at the right post to collect the loose puck and fire it home.

Third Period, 15:49, 2-2: The Bruins have a chance when Ryan Suter breaks his stick at the point, but defense partner Shea Weber pins Bergeron along boards to ward off the threat.

Third Period, 14:02, 2-2: The Bruins do kill off that penalty, though things got a little nasty in front when Andrew Ference cleared out Hornqvist with a cross check after a Thomas save. That led to some shoving between Mike Fisher and Dennis Seidenberg, but no further penalties were called and the sides are back at even strength.

Third Period, 12:02, 2-2: The Bruins will now have a key penalty to kill as Adam McQuaid is called for delay of game for sending the puck over the glass out of play.

Third Period, 11:48, 2-2: The Predators threaten again as Brandon Yip rips one off the post after a faceoff win in the Bruins zone. Boston is still up 35-14 in shots, but the momentum has swung to the Predators at this point.

Third Period, 9:33, 2-2: The Predators once again score on their first shot of the period, with Patric Hornqvist tying the game again.

Sergei Kostitsyn sent the puck out from the left side to Hornqvist, who banged it in behind Thomas from the top of the crease. Rinne gets the second assist as Nashville scores quickly in transition.

Third Period, 8:24, Bruins 2-1: The Predators have once again failed to produce a shot to start the period, though Kevin Klein just ran one off the post to come within inches of tying the game again.

Boston has outshot Nashville 7-0 in the third and 33-13 overall.

Third Period, 2:55, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins pull ahead on some stellar work by the fourth line.

Shawn Thornton with a beauty of a backhand pass out of the left corner to Daniel Paille in front, who finishes the chance with a nifty backhand of his own.

Third Period, 0:46, 1-1: The Bruins with another strong start to a period with a couple quick shots, the best being a bid by Milan Lucic at the left post off a feed from Rich Peverley behind the net.

Third Period, 0:00, 1-1: The final frame is under way here at the Garden, with the Bruins and Predators deadlocked at a goal apiece despite Boston's 26-13 shot advantage.

Second Intermission Notes: The Bruins controlled play again for most of the second, but Nashville had the only goal to tie it 1-1 going into the third.

The Predators had just one shot for the first 15:15 of the period, but made it count with Shea Weber's one-timer on the power play. The Predators had a late flurry in the closing minutes, but Boston still outshot them 10-7 and have a 26-13 edge overall.

That would be even more dominant if not for Nashville's shot-blocking abilities. The Predators have 21 blocks to Boston's six. The Bruins have attempted 53 shots in all, with just 26 reaching the net. Nashville has been more efficient, with 13 shots on goal out of 24 attempts.

End Second Period, 1-1: The middle frame comes to a close with the game deadlocked at 1-1. The Bruins dominated most of the period, but Nashville came away with the only goal as the clubs will head to the third all even.

Second Period, 17:20, 1-1: The Bruins start to surge again with a strong shift by the fourth line. Shawn Thornton has two good bids in front but Rinne makes the stop on both.

Second Period, 15:15, 1-1: The Predators finally get their second shot of the period, and Thomas makes his first save as Mike Fisher sends a long-range bid in from the right boards.

Second Period, 12:30, 1-1: The Bruins can't convert that chance, failing to put a shot on net despite plenty of attempts and lots of time in the Nashville zone.

Second Period, 10:30, 1-1: The Bruins will have a chance to get that goal back as they go on the power play. Sergei Kostitsyn goes off for interference after colliding with Johnny Boychuk outside the blue line, taking the Bruins defenseman out of the play as Nashville rushed up ice. The Bruins now lead 24-7 in shots.

Second Period, 7:32, 1-1: The Predators needed just one shot to pull even on the power as Shea Weber scores on Nashville's first shot of the period.

He blasted one home on a one-timer from the left point set up by defense partner Ryan Suter.

Second Period, 6:24, Bruins 1-0: The Predators may finally get a chance for their first shot of the period as Nashville goes on the power play. Adam McQuaid gets two for roughing after popping Patric Hornqvist in a scramble around the Boston goal. The Bruins lead 6-0 in shots this period, 22-6 overall.

Second Period, 3:54, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins controlling play again early in the second. They have the first five shots of the period and now lead 21-6 in that category.

Second Period, 0:38, Bruins 1-0: Thomas nearly gets caught straying too far from his net, but Shea Weber fires wide from the right point as Thomas scrambles to get back to his cage.

Second Period, 0:00, Bruins 1-0: The middle frame is under way here at the Garden, where the Bruins will look to build on their one-goal lead.

First Intermission Notes: The Bruins needed a big effort after Wednesday's debacle in Buffalo, and through 20 minutes they've gotten it. Boston has played better in all three zones, controlling play in the nashville end for long stretches and limiting chances on Tim Thomas.

They've outshot Nashville 16-6, but lead just 1-0. And it took a shorthanded goal by Patrice Bergeron for that. This one is far from over, especially with Pekka Rinne turning in a strong effort, but the Bruins have gotten off to the start they needed. Now it's a matter of sustaining it.

While the rest of the Bruins have picked up their play, David Krejci remains quiet. He showed some decent effort on the club's power plays, but remains without a shot or hit and is just 2-2 on faceoffs down on the third line. Chris Kelly has looked solid with Milan Lucic and Rich Peverley, with that line creating chances since the opening shift.

The Bruins have won 61 percent of the draws (14-9) despite Bergeron being 1-5. He made up for that with his shorthanded goal, while Gregory Campbell is 4-1 on draws to pick up the slack. Boston's shot advantage would be ever greater, but Nashville has blocked 10 attempts to just three blocks by Boston.

End First Period, Bruins 1-0: A strong opening frame for the Bruins comes to a close with Boston holding a 1-0 lead and a 16-6 edge in shots.

First Period, 16:00, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins kill off the remainder of the penalty and the sides are now back to even strength.

First Period, 16:00, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins open the scoring with a shorthanded goal by Patrice Bergeron.

Brad Marchand set up the play by driving deep into the Nashville zone, regaining control of the puck in the right corner. He carried it out to the slot and dropped it back for Bergeron, who fired home a wrist shot from the right circle.

First Period, 14:43, 0-0: Everybody wants to play at the same time in this one, as the Bruins now get called for too many men. It will be 4 on 4 for 19 seconds before Nashville gets its first power-play chance of the day.

First Period, 13:02, 0-0: The Bruins get another chance with the man advantage as the Predators are called for too many men on the ice.

First Period, 12:42, 0-0: The Bruins got a decent start to that power play but can't convert the opportunity. Just after the penalty expired, the Bruins nearly scored a flukey goal when an Adam McQuaid dump-in took a strange bounce off the end boards in front of the net, but no one could pounce on it in time.

First Period, 10:37, 0-0: The Bruins get the first power-play chance of the day as Mike Fisher is called for hooking.

First Period, 9:53, 0-0: Things have calmed down a bit at the Garden, with more play in the neutral zone. The Predators have had a few more chances on Thomas, cutting the shot total to 8-5, but it remains scoreless.

First Period, 5:39, 0-0: The Bruins continue to carry the play early, but Rinne has been up to the task. Shots now 7-3 in Boston's favor with all four lines spending time in Nashville zone.

First Period, 1:02, 0-0: The Bruins are buzzing early with four shots in the first minute of play, including several good chances in close by the Kelly line. Much better start than Wednesday. Now it's a matter of sustaining it.

First Period, 0:00, 0-0: This one is under way here at the Garden, where the Bruins will try to put Wednesday's 6-0 loss in Buffalo behind them against one of the top teams from the West as the Predators pay their only visit to Boston this season.

1 p.m.: The Bruins will open with Milan Lucic, Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley up front, Dennis Seidenberg and Joe Corvo on defense and Tim Thomas in goal.

The Predators counter with Gabriel Bourque, David legwand and Patric Hornqvist up front, Ryan Suter and Shea Weber on the blue line and Pekka Rinne in net.

12:55 p.m.: The Bruins have officially scratched Steven Kampfer again, while Nathan Horton remains out with a concussion.

Brian McGrattan (upper body), Matt Halischuk and Ryan Ellis are out for Nashville.

12:45 p.m.: The Bruins rolled the same lines that began Wednesday's game in Boston in the warm-ups for this one. That keeps David Krejci down with Benoit Pouliot and Jordan Caron, while Chris Kelly remains between Milan Lucic and Rich Peverley.

Here are the full line combinations from warm-ups:

Lucic-Kelly-Peverley

Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin

Pouliot-Krejci-Caron

Paille-Campbell-Thornton

Defense pairs:

Chara-Boychuk

Seidenberg-Corvo

Ference-McQuaid

12:30 p.m.: Tim Thomas and Pekka Rinne lead the teams out for warm-ups.

That will be the goaltending matchup for this one at the Garden.

Rinne is 2-0-0 with a 2.34 GAA and .921 save percentage against Boston in his career. He's also 30-12-5 with a 2.41 GAA and .923 save percentage overall this season, but has allowed seven goals in his last two starts.

8 a.m. ET: The Bruins will look to bounce back from a season-worst 6-0 loss in Buffalo on Wednesday when they return to the Garden to open a brief two-game homestand against Nashville on Saturday afternoon.

The Bruins (33-17-2, 68 points) remain comfortably atop the Northeast Division and second in the Eastern Conference, but need to snap out of a recent slump that has seen them go just 5-6-1 over their last 12 games.

Nashville (32-18-5, 69 points) is just 1-2-1 in February and lost 4-3 in Ottawa on Thursday, but the Predators were 11-2-0 in January and are battling for the lead in both the Central Division and the Western Conference, trailing Detroit by seven points on both counts.

The Predators are coming to Boston for the first time since Oct. 21, 2009. The Bruins took a 3-2 decision that night, but the Predators did prevail 4-3 in overtime in Nashville in the last meeting this past St. Patrick's Day.

The puck drops at 1 p.m., so check back here for updates on all the action.

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