Linus Ullmark saved 32 shots and helped set up Charlie Coyle’s short-handed goal in the third period as the Boston Bruins clinched a 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.
David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha both scored and assisted in the final period, leading the Bruins to victory for the third time in four games. With this win, they extended their lead in the Atlantic Division by four points over Florida, who lost against Montreal.
“We played strong as a team throughout the entire game,” Ullmark commented. “We stayed composed for the full 60 minutes, showing resilience even when things got tough.”
Despite Juuse Saros making 30 saves for Nashville, they suffered their third consecutive loss following a record-breaking 18-game point streak.
“I felt we improved as the game progressed,” stated Predators coach Andrew Brunette. “Especially in the second and third periods, we had control of the game. We positioned ourselves well, but unfortunately, we made a crucial error.”
This marked Ullmark’s second shutout of the season and the eighth of his career. Coyle broke the deadlock with 6:42 left in the game after Ullmark passed the puck to Brad Marchand, who found Coyle for the goal.
“Ullmark’s play on the penalty kill, setting up that goal, was massive,” Coyle remarked. “You don’t expect such a big play from your goalie, but it was a game-changer.” Boston’s penalty kill was stellar, preventing Nashville from scoring on all four power plays.
“We had a solid performance on faceoffs, and our aggressive forecheck made it difficult for them to gain entry,” said Boston coach Jim Montgomery. Zacha extended Boston’s lead late in the game, while Pastrnak sealed the victory with his 46th goal of the season.
Despite the loss, Nashville remains atop the Western Conference’s wild-card race, leading the Los Angeles Kings by three points and the St. Louis Blues by six.
The Predators had a chance to score in the second period when Roman Josi’s shot hit the post with 4:33 remaining.
