Bruins Blank Predators 6-0, but Nashville Had Its Looks
Pastrnak and McAvoy pile up points while Ross Colton rings iron and Justus Annunen can't keep Boston's better chances out
Boston won 6-0, and the Bruins did earn it with the better chances. The scoreline still flatters them, though. Nashville was not shut out because it never got close.
By expected goals, which measure how much each team's chances were worth, Boston's looks added up to 4.32 goals and Nashville's to 3.20. So the Bruins had the edge in quality, but they beat that number by nearly two goals. Nashville had more shot attempts and got nothing to show for chances worth more than three goals. Shots were close too, 30-28 for Boston.
The finishing came in a rush. David Pastrnak had two goals and two assists on a line with Pavel Zacha (two assists) and JJ Peterka, who scored once and also rang one off the iron. Charlie McAvoy set up four goals from the back end.
At the other end, Michael DiPietro stopped all 28 shots, including every one of Nashville's most dangerous looks. Ross Colton hit iron on one of the Predators' best chances. Justus Annunen allowed six goals on 30 shots, more than Boston's chances deserved. The bounces went Boston's way at both ends.
