March 5, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Zachary Leure (68) scores a goal against the Boston Bruins during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images The Nashville Predators closed the second period with three straight goals to open a one-goal game and cruised to a 6-3 victory over the visiting Boston Bruins on Thursday night.
Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists and Matthew Wood had two goals in Nashville’s four-goal middle frame to lead the Predators, who made several deals this week ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline and played without alternate captain Ryan O’Reilly (upper body injury).
Nicolas Haig, Eric Haula and Luke Evangelista also scored, Steven Stamkos had two assists and Jusé Saros made 20 saves to help Nashville break its recent three-game skid (0-2-1).
Charlie McAvoy and Viktor Arvidsson each had a goal and an assist, Morgan Geekie also scored and Pavel Zacha had two helpers for Boston, who is 6-2-3 in his last 11 games but has lost six straight (0-3-3).
Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo stopped 23 shots, including 13 in a busy middle frame.
Nashville broke the deadlock at 13:53 of the first period when Hague teed up Ozzy Wiesblatt’s drop pass at the end of a transition and slipped a shot from the left circle.
Saros helped the Predators extend their lead at the break, making a flashing glove save on Elias Lindholm who moved around a defender for a close-range shot. David Pastrnak drove wide and was awarded a penalty kick before play.
With Boston ahead 1:24 into the middle frame, Nick Perbix intercepted Pastrnak’s pass attempt and broke in early, setting up Wood for a short snipe.
Geekie needed another Bruins power play with just four seconds left to make it 2-1 at 3:30 of the second. After Lindholm won his faceoff with McAvoy, Geekie scored a one-timer from the top left dot for his career-high 34th goal.
The hosts took a two-point lead again at 10:18. Haula ultimately missed Brady Skjei’s point shot.
After Boston’s Sean Kuraly’s response was faltered by goalie interference, Forsberg cashed in late on the ensuing power play for a 4-1 Nashville advantage. The goal was a wrister from the high slot at 12:37.
The Predators took a 5-1 lead into the second intermission. Wood got his second goal at 14:44 when he blocked Roman Josi’s point shot.
McAvoy brought the Bruins closer to a goal with 13:55 left in regulation, slotting home Arvidsson’s feed from behind the end line to the top of the circle.
Boston continued the pressure in the third, with Arvidsson scoring on a one-timer with 4:28 remaining on a feed from Casey Mittelstadt, but Evangelista found an empty-net goal 2:01 later.
–Field level media
