Nashville Cats

The Bruins host the Predators tonight, for realz! Expect some hot Finn on Finn action- puck drop is 7:00 PM on NESN.

• Boston and Nashville are playing for points as the regular season winds to a close. The Preds are coming off a win over the Islanders last night. Fox Sports
• A couple of down days will hopefully have done Tuukka Rask a world of good. Compared to other NHL starters with his workload, the skinny Finn’s numbers have been comparable. Congratulations to Matt Beleskey and his wife, who have welcomed a daughter. Boston Globe
• David Krejci doesn’t appear to be at 100%, and Bruce Cassidy is keeping his cards close to his chest. WEEI
• Have a look at what the Bruins face in the final seven game home stretch of the regular season. MassLive
• Sure, they’ve shot themselves in the foot, but that does not let them off the hook for making the playoffs. Metro
• From pest to best, hasn’t Brad Marchand rounded into a complete player? And he has done so while remaining true to himself. The Guardian
• In praise of Zdeno Chara - congratulations on the Masterton Trophy nomination, we wish it could have been a well-deserved Norris nod. South Coast Today As an aside, we can congratulate the former Bruin who is the Predators’ nominee tonight. Predators NHL
• It all went pretty well for the Providence Bruins this weekend. Daniel Vladar stepped up and earned his first professional shutout in the absence of Zane McIntyre (called up to Boston) and Malcolm Subban (injured.) Patriot Ledger
• Charlie McAvoy and Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson watch is ON! WEEI
• Snip, snip, ooops? Might the 10th Annual Cuts for a Cause explain that mysterious “upper body injury” to Krejci? Tim Schaller‘s Timmyheads have revised their uniforms. Bruins NHL (With video) NESN Enjoy a gallery of photos. Boston Herald

Elsewhere around the rink:

• A gruesome injury to Marc Methot has Paul Stewart debating how changes to hockey equipment have affected injuries. Hockeybuzz
• In the Eastern Conference, compare which teams’ odds are improving and by what percentage following the close of last evening’s NHL action. The Score
• As they fight for a playoff berth, the Maple Leafs have lost Frederik Anderson to injury- for how long? TSN
• Things are tough all over for goalies, as the Hurricanes ’ affable Eddie Lack was stretchered off the ice. His team has been quietly surging late this season. Boston Herald
• Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but which Eastern Conference matchups would most tickle your fancy? Discuss! ESPN
• One of the five NHL players enjoying notable breakout seasons is David Pastrnak. The Hockey News
• The Seattle Metropolitans’ legacy is far more than the first U.S. Stanley Cup win and the indignity of folding after the sale of their arena to become a hotel parking garage. New York Times