Need to Know: Bruins at Predators

NASHVILLE - The Bruins were admittedly riding high after their thrilling win over the Dallas Stars to start this two-game road trip, but while they will certainly take some lessons with them from the victory, they know they must reset on Thursday night as they visit the Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

"Every game is its own animal," said coach Jim Montgomery. "Usually, the momentum doesn't carry over. I know there was a long break, but the Toronto win was a real good team win. We didn't have the same thing the next game against Washington. It's something that we need to continue to build on here and be a little more consistent in our process."
Bruins centerman Charlie Coyle added that the Black & Gold can learn from the way they handled the in-game adversity they faced as they battled through for that 3-2 overtime triumph in Dallas, while echoing his coach's sentiments about turning the page.
"It's great because I think in-game, too, we fought through a lot of different adversity, which is good and only gonna help us," said Coyle. "And that's one thing that we kind of said in the locker room during it, was these are the types of games we've got to play, we've got to win, and you've got to love to play. Those are playoff-type games. That's what we're gonna see down the road, especially heading into playoffs and when we get there.
"It builds confidence but each game, each night you've got to come back with that focus again. You're kind of riding high a little bit, but it doesn't just translate. You've got to make it happen and we have to keep doing the right things that we did last game."
#### Here's everything else you need to know ahead of the 8 p.m. ET puck drop on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub:
DeBrusk Still Sidelined:Jake DeBrusk was, once again, a full participant in Thursday's morning skate, but will not suit up against the Predators. The winger, who has not played since Jan. 2 in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park, is now eyeing a Saturday return to the lineup.
"Very hopeful for Saturday," said Montgomery. "He's not ready. Really close. He had a good skate again yesterday. Just where he's at, we think Saturday's gonna be a really good opportunity. We felt if he played today then he wouldn't play Saturday."
Nosek Getting Closer:Tomas Nosek, who has not played since Jan. 19 in New York due to a foot fracture, could be back at some point during next week's road trip to Seattle and Western Canada, per Montgomery.
"He changes the mix," said Montgomery. "Allows me to put him in situations, and our team in situations, especially, when the face-offs are on the left side. He wins a lot of face-offs for us so we're not putting right shots in disadvantageous situations."

Looking for Power: The Bruins carry an 0-for-20 slump on the man advantage into Thursday's tilt in Nashville and Montgomery is hoping that a change in mentality could help shift the downturn.
"When they didn't have success on the first one, they get less patient and the frustration level - they want to be perfect. They want results right away," said Montgomery. "The power play, like our 5-on-5 game, it's process-oriented and it's about puck support and puck movement and body movement converging at the net, the things that give you success and give you high quality chances.
"If our focus is there instead of trying to score a power-play goal, because it's on everybody's mind, that leads to frustration and leads to bad decisions."
Family First: The Bruins would like nothing more than to secure a perfect siblings road trip with a win against the Predators.
"We want to play as best we can for them and win games and make it the best trip possible for them," said Coyle. "Of course we're winning the games to gain the points for us in the standings and keep moving up and keep playing the right way, but we want to do it for them, too.
"They're all taking time off of work and maybe kids or whatever it is, to be here with us. That's pretty special. We want to make it the best trip possible. I think they're having a great time so far and we want to finish it off the right way for them."

Opposing View:The Predators have dropped two of three since returning from their bye week and are currently five points back of a wild card spot in the Western Conference. Captain Roman Josi, who carries a six-game point streak into Tuesday's contest, paces the Preds with 44 points (13 goals, 31 assists) in 51 games, while Filip Forsberg leads the team with 19 goals. Forsberg could miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury.
Old friend Jeremy Lauzon has three goals and three assists in 44 games.
Juuse Saros, who is 20-14-5 with a 2.73 goals against average and .919 save percentage, will make the start in goal.
### Thursday's Projected Lineup
FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Craig Smith
Pavel Zacha - David Krejci - David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall - Charlie Coyle - Nick Foligno
A.J. Greer - Trent Frederic - Jakub Lauko
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm - Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort - Connor Clifton

GOALIES
Jeremy Swayman
Linus Ullmark