Today on Bruins Daily

Although this thing called a nor’easter is sweeping its way through New England, the Bruins are going to bear through it (no pun intended) tonight at the TD Garden and play the Nashville Predators as scheduled. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @BruinsDaily for updates and join in on the discussion using #DailyLive in your tweets.

In case you missed it

Chris Chirichiello says that Tuukka Rask is due for some rest – and in fact will get that needed breather tonight as Niklas Svedberg will get his first career NHL start.

Anthony Travalgia explains how the penalty kill sunk the B’s in Tuesday’s loss to the New York Islanders.

Know the enemy

Its safe to say that the Nashville Predators are having a difficult time separating themselves from the pack in the tightly-knit Western Conference. They are currently last in the uber competitive Central Division through 40 games (40 points). On the other hand, they have won two in a row and are 5-4-1 in their last 10.

Goal scoring has always been a sore spot for Nashville under coach Barry Trotz and this year is no different. Craig Smith and Mike Fisher are the only two Preds who have 10 or more goals on the season, while Shea Weber’s nine goals are third on the team and tied with Zdeno Chara for second among defensemen. Weber and rookie defenseman Seth Jones have been two bright spots this season, but without Pekka Rinne the team has suffered defensively as they’ve given up the fifth most goals in the West (119).

The Bruins won the first meeting pretty handily back on December 23rd, and with a healthy Carl Soderberg and Dougie Hamilton returning, they could very well get another two points and snap a two-game losing skid.

Bruins linkage

Even though the Bruins have been discussed for the 2015 Winter Classic in Washington, DC – along with the Philadelphia Flyers, who many peg as the favorite to face the Caps – Claude Julien is in no rush to return to the annual New Years Day event. (Joe Haggerty/CSNNE)

After allowing eight goals his the last three plus periods of action, Ty Anderson explains that Tuukka Rask is human. (Hockey Buzz)

With all the call ups in the last month from Providence, Carter Camper should be next in line to join the big club if his services are needed. (Mike Miccoli/New England Hockey Journal)

League linkage

An inside look at how the US Olympic team was named for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. (Scott Burnside/ESPN)

After yesterday’s success at “The Big House”, Greg Wyshynski discusses the future of the Winter Classic. (Puck Daddy)

The Predators are hoping for more offense in the new year. (Josh Cooper/The Tennessean)

Bruins’ projected lines

Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Jarome Iginla
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Reilly Smith
Carl Soderberg-Ryan Spooner-Matt Fraser
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Jordan Caron

Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Dougie Hamilton-Matt Bartkowski
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid

Niklas Svedberg
Tuukka Rask

Predators’ projected lines

Colin Wilson-Mike Fisher-Patric Hornqvist
Gabriel Bourque-Matt Cullen-Viktor Stalberg
Nick Spaling-David Legwand-Craig Smith
Eric Nystrom-Paul Gaustad-Matt Hendricks

Shea Weber-Roman Josi
Mattias Ekholm-Seth Jones
Kevin Klein-Ryan Ellis

Carter Hutton
Marek Mazanec

Tweets of interest

He may have a day off, but Tuukka is already making the most of it…

Tuukka Rask wearing a “Free Thornton” T-shirt in the Bruins dressing room. That guy is a beauty #BruinsTalk

— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) January 2, 2014

Edmonton born defenseman Johnny Boychuk is telling Bruins is shaking his head over this latest snowstorm…

Johnny Boychuk shaking his head that New England schools are off today. Says they never called it off in Edmonton in 2 feet of snow.

— Dan Cagen (@DanCagen) January 2, 2014

For something completely different…

Tough start to the new year in the entertainment business as James Avery passed away yesterday at the age of 68. Rest in Piece, Uncle Phil. ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ was always a great place with your presence.