Rask steps up as Bruins down Preds
BOSTON -- Tuukka Rask, criticized by his coach after his last start, returned from a one-game absence with 24 saves, pacing his Boston Bruins to a 4-1 victory over Nashville that ended the Predators' four-game winning streak Tuesday night.
Rask, who missed Saturday night's game against the Islanders in Brooklyn, had a shutout until Craig Smith deflected home Roman Josi's shot with 8:44 left. Rask then stood tall and Riley Nash set up Noel Acciari for his first NHL goal to finish off a 3-on-1 with 4:13 remaining before David Backes scored an empty net goal with 1:31 left to put it away.
Backup Anton Khudobin created a bit of a goaltending controversy by winning Saturday night but interim coach Bruce Cassidy made it clear Rask would play Tuesday if physically able.
The Bruins, who came in a point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for third place in the Atlantic Division, moved three points ahead of the idle Tampa Bay Lightning and four ahead of the New York Islanders (idle) and Carolina Hurricanes in the wild card race. Toronto was still playing.
The Predators, playing the second game of a back-to-back, lost for the second time in nine games and remained a point ahead of the St. Louis Blues in the Central Division -- the Blues with a game in hand.
Patrice Bergeron, with his first goal in 10 games, and David Krejci scored first-period goals before Acciari scored his first goal in 43 NHL games. Krejci left practice early on Monday with an upper body injury but was able to play.
Bruins captain Zdeno Chara notched his 600th NHL point on the first goal, while Nash set up Acciari's goal for his fifth point in three games -- after two in his previous 20.
Pekka Rinne made 27 stops and Smith ended a 25-game goal-scoring drought for the Preds.
NOTES: The Bruins recalled G Zane McIntyre late Tuesday but both Tuukka Rask, who played, and Anton Khudobin, injured in his win in Brooklyn Saturday night, were dressed -- and McIntyre was returned to Providence during the game. ... Preds GM David Poile said he hoped to have injured C Mike Fisher, who missed his fourth straight with a lower body injury, back "as soon as Thursday," when Nashville hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs. ... The Bruins observed a moment of silence for former player and assistant coach Gary Doak, who passed away this week. ... G Malcolm Subban a Bruins minor leaguer, was in the press box watching his brother, D P.K. Subban, make his first return to TD Garden since leaving the Montreal Canadiens. P.K. Subban was hardly welcomed by the Boston crowd. ... The Bruins continue a three-game homestand when the Dallas Stars visit Thursday.