Last time the Bruins faced the Predators it went about as one might expect; a 1-0 contest between two of the best defensive teams in hockey.

The Bruins have allowed 89 goals and the Predators 90, making it a battle of two teams who aren’t used to high-scoring affairs on the regular. Nashville has the 14th most goals in the league while the Bruins have struggled a bit more at finding the back of the net.

With one of the best offensive weapons back in the lineup on Saturday in Patrice Bergeron, however, the Bruins might have a spark.

“He’s such a great player and teammate,” said Joakim Nordstrom, bumped up to the second line while Bergeron is back in his regular slot. “He’s irreplaceable, it’s obviously huge for him to be back. We’re extremely happy.”

Even with the potential for more scoring oomph, the Predators defense isn’t easy to solve. Mattias Ekholm and PK Subban have been out, but Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, and Yannik Weber make up one of the strongest groups in the league.

It’s a good challenge for a Bruins team that, Bergeron or not, has been slowly starting to find its way out of its scoring struggles.

“They have some of the best defensemen in the league,” said Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy. “All of them are special players.”

The Bruins head to Carolina on Sunday following Saturday’s game before the three-day holiday break and facing the Devils on home Thursday.

It’s the end of a busy stretch before a needed break with the injured guys returning, but if there’s any extra motivation against a tough opponent with a key piece back, it wouldn’t be surprising.

Game Notes

Bergeron will return to the lineup after being injured at the start of November, and he slides back in on the top line with Brad Marchand while David Krejci will stay with David Pastrnak.

Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson will sit as the forward out with Bergeron back in the fold.

Jaroslav Halak earns a third straight start for the second time this season after shutting out Montreal and holding down the Ducks until late in the third period on Thursday. Tuukka Rask will start in net tomorrow in Carolina in the second game of the back-to-back.

About the Predators

The Predators (22-12-2) have allowed the second fewest goals in the NHL with 90, just one more than the Bruins.

Ryan Johansen leads the team with 30 points while Josi trails him by four with 26. Goalie Pekka Rinne has posted a 2.07 goals against average with a .927 save percentage.

Subbanis on injured reserve with an upper body injury while Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg (the Predators leading goal scorer with 14) are out long-term.

Their power play has struggled at 14.5 percent as the fifth weakest in the league. Their opposing penalty minutes per game are the most in the league at 10.9.