More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

about 1 month ago: Nashville Predators goalie Dan Ellis and defenseman Shea Weber (6) watch as Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron, right, has his shot go in for a goal during the second period of a NHL hockey game in Boston Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

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With several key players on the shelf with injuries and a bunch of new faces in the lineup for the B's, the team was able to put in a solid effort late in the game after a sloppy first period to beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 at The Garden.

The Predators got on the board first 5:55 in the game just moments after Derek Morris' tripping penalty expired. David Legwand lugged the puck down the middle of the ice right through the slot area untouched and left the puck for the trailer Jerred Smithson who put the lose puck past Tim Thomas.

Nashville came fractions of an inch away from extending their lead to 2-0 late in the first period when Cal O'Reilly rang one off the post. Fortunately for the B's, the puck stayed out and the Bruins were able to head to the dressing room down only one.

The B's evened it up just 26 seconds into the second period when Brad Marchand collected the puck in the neutral zone and fed the puck to Michael Ryder in the slot, who roofed a backhander over Dan Ellis. The assist by Brad Marchand was his first NHL point.

Former BU Terrier Colin Wilson scored his first NHL goal when he tipped in a rebound for the 2-1 Nashville lead 6:17 into the middle period. Tim Thomas made a partial save on Patric Hornqvist's shot, but the puck bounced over Thomas' shoulder and stopped along the goal line. Wilson took a poke at it and put it away for his first NHL tally.

The home team tied it up at 2-2 with 7:22 left in the second period, when Patrice Bergeron shoveled in a rebound off a big slapper from the point by Zdeno Chara.

The Bruins opened the third period by applying a lot of offensive pressure and getting pucks to the net. Their efforts paid off 8:33 into the third when Steve Begin fired a quick one-timer from the slot for his first goal of the season.

Nashville had several good scoring opportunities in the final minute but Tim Thomas (28 saves) and the B's were able to survive for the 3-2 win.

Notes:

- Daniel Paille, Trent Whitfield, and Brad Marchand all made their Boston Bruins debuts.

- Brad Marchand recorded his first NHL point in his NHL debut.

- Steve Begin scored his first goal as a member of the Bruins.

- Daniel Paille got an assist on Steve Begin's goal.

- Tim Thomas looked shaky early, but settled in nicely.

- Patrice Bergeron looked good and was strong on the puck all night.

- The B's won 62% of the draws.

-  The Predators are now 1 for 27 on the power play this year.

- The Bruins return to the ice tomorrow night in Philadelphia (7:00, NESN & NHL Network)