Need to Know: Bruins at Predators

NASHVILLE - After sitting out the last five games with an upper-body injury, David Backes will return to the lineup tonight in Nashville. The veteran forward was sidelined after taking a high hit from Oilers defenseman Matt Benning in Edmonton on Oct. 18.
"Contribute to a team win, that's our goal, that's my goal every night," Backes said of his expectations for his return. "Try to start some chemistry with [Joakim Nordstrom] and [Anders Bjork] here. I like the combination and we've got to go earn some more ice time."

Before Backes was injured, he had taken over the third-line center role, which subsequently fell to Nordstrom in his absence. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy has been pleased with Nordstrom's play in the middle and will stick with him there with Backes sliding back in on the right wing.
"He obviously skates extremely well so he can cover the ice, he's a smart player," Backes said of Nordstrom. "I've seen him with the younger kids maybe being a little more cautious. But he does great things with the puck, puts it in great spots.
"If I can establish the forecheck on his good dumps, get some pucks stopped, he can be in a good F3 position or free him up if he's first on it because he's a little quicker than I am."

For Backes, being back on the wing - where he has played for much of his two-plus seasons in Boston - will not be much of an adjustment.
"I think I've played both [wing and center] enough," said Backes. "Center of the ice you're kind of looking at 360 degrees of guys around you. On the wing, especially on the wall exits, you're maybe down to 180 degrees of where you have to be aware of what's going on because you've got a firm wall next to you.
"Being aware, making plays, hard plays, not changing my style, knowing that I'm going to go into those rough areas, obviously being more aware and making sure if someone's coming for contact they're hitting me in the shoulders and I'm protecting my head."

Opposing View

The Bruins will have no easy task on Saturday as they visit the NHL-leading Predators, who pace the league with a 10-3-0 record and 20 points. This year's Predators hit the 10-win mark faster than any team in franchise history.
"I think they do everything well, to be honest with you," said Cassidy. "Skating and strong on the puck never ends, they're a constant, resilient team on the puck, relentless on it. I think they attack well from everywhere."
After missing five games with injury, goaltender Pekka Rinne returned on Thursday and made 42 saves in a 4-1 win over Tampa Bay. Winger Viktor Arvidsson is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and is unlikely to play against the Bruins.

Wait, There's More

• Torey Krug will be playing in his 400th career game tonight.
• The Bruins and Predators are meeting for the 28th time in their histories with the Bruins having a 14-8-1-4 record and a 75-66 scoring advantage in those games. The Bruins are winless in their last four games in Nashville (0-3-1) with their last road win over the Predators a 6-2 victory on Dec. 23, 2013.
• The Bruins and Predators split last season's series with each team winning their game on home ice.

Saturday's Projected Lineup

Jaroslav Halka will make his second consecutive start between the pipes.
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Danton Heinen - David Krejci - Jake DeBrusk
Anders Bjork - Joakim Nordstrom - David Backes
Chris Wagner - Sean Kuraly - Noel Acciari
Zdeno Chara - Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug - John Moore
Jeremy Lauzon - Steven Kampfer
Jaroslav Halak
Tuukka Rask