Bruins beat Predators in shootout

Referee Kevin Pollock, right, signals as Boston Bruins' Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates after making the winning goal in a shootout against the Nashville Predators during an NHL hockey game in Boston, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Bruins won 4-3. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Early afternoon games haven't been much fun for the Bruins this season but today they played better against a tough Nashville Predators team. The game would eventually go to a shootout, after Tim Thomas allowed a soft five-hole goal with less than four minutes remaining in the third period and then Milan Lucic tied the game for the Bruins with a little over a minute to play in the third period. In the shootout, Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron scored to win the game 4-3 and get those two points while Tim Thomas shut the door on the two Predators shooters he faced. This was a really good comeback win for the Bruins and I'm hoping it can get them going again and on the right track. Milan Lucic played a heck of a game, probably his best of the season.

In the first period, Patrice Bergeron scored his 16th goal of the season, a shorthanded goal after Brad Marchand made a strong effort in the Predators zone.

In the second period, Shea Weber tied the game 1-1 with a big slap shot on the power-play.

In the third period, Daniel Paille scored his 9th goal of the season to make it 2-1 Bruins. He was set up beautifully by Shawn Thornton. Predators Patric Hornqvist would tie the game 2-2 later. Mike Fisher would later score making it 3-2 Predators. Then on the power-play, Lucic scored his 20th goal of the season to tie the game. Lucic is the first player this season to reach the 20 goal/100 PIMs mark.

In the shootout, David Krejci was stopped, Sergei Kostitsyn was stopped, Tyler Seguin scored after many dekes, Martin Erat was stopped, and Patrice Bergeron scored to end the game, Bruins winning 4-3.

Game notes
The Bruins led the game in shots 41-22 and faceoff wins 38-26. The Predators led the game in hits 14-11 and blocked shots 29-9.

The Bruins went 1-for-4 on the power-play while the Predators went 1-for-3.

Tim Thomas played in net and made 19 saves on 22 shots. Thomas is now 23-10-0 with a 2.18 GAA and a .931 save percentage this season.

Milan Lucic led the Bruins in shots with 7.

Jordan Caron and Dennis Seidenberg led the Bruins in hits with 3 apiece.

Adam McQuaid had a bad game, picking up two minor penalties and was -2. He had another "puck over the glass" penalty in this game.

Onto the next one
The Bruins are now 34-17-2 with 70 points (1st place in the Northeast Division and 2nd place in the Eastern Conference). The Bruins next game is on Tuesday against the New York Rangers in Boston at 7pm ET.