Forsberg's 3-point game, Wood's 2 goals lead Predators past Bruins 6-3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Matthew Wood scored twice to lead the Nashville Predators to a 6-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists, Nicolas Hague, Erik Haula and Luke Evangelista also scored for the Predators. Juuse Saros made 20 saves for Nashville, which snapped a three-game losing streak. The Predators trail the Seattle Kraken for the Western Conference’s second wild card by three points.

Charlie McAviy and Viktor Arvidsson each had a goal and an assist and Morgan Geekie also scored for Boston. Joonas Korpisalo made 24 saves for the Bruins, who have lost two of their last three games. Boston is one point ahead of Columbus for the Eastern Conference’s second wild card.

Hague scored the game’s first goal at 13:53 of the opening period on a slap shot between Korpisalo's pads.

Wood made it 2-0 at 1:24 of the second with a short-handed goal.

Just as coincidental penalties to Wood and Boston’s Mark Kastelic were expiring, Nick Perbix intercepted a pass in the Boston zone and went the other way. Wood exited the box and joined the rush, and Perbix left a drop pass for Wood, who scored his 11th of the season.

Geekie cut Nashville's lead in half at 3:30 of the second on a power play. The goal was Geekie’s 34th of the season, a career high.

Haula and Forsberg scored goals 2:18 apart midway through the second.

Ryan Ufko recalled earlier Thursday from Milwaukee of the AHL assisted on the Forsberg goal for his first NHL point. Nashville has traded four roster players since Tuesday, triggering multiple call-ups from Milwaukee.

Wood struck again with 5:16 remaining in the second.

McAvoy and Arvidsson scored in the third before Evangelista's empty-net goal punctuated the scoring.

Bruins: Host the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

Predators: At the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Nashville Predators left wing Zachary L'heureux (68) chases the puck past Boston Bruins center Elias Lindholm (28) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm (27) skates the puck against Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) blocks a shot on goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Boston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (70) blocks a shot on goal by Nashville Predators center Jonathan Marchessault (81) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood, right, scores a goal past Boston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Jet Greaves made 26 saves, Mathieu Olivier scored twice and the Columbus Blue Jackets dealt another blow to Florida's playoff hopes with a 4-2 victory over the Panthers on Thursday night.

Two-time defending champion Florida is in danger of becoming the first Cup-winning team to miss the playoffs the following season since Los Angeles in 2014-15. Ten points behind Boston for the final wild-card spot in the East, the Panthers have lost the first four games of a trip that ends Friday night in Detroit.

Defenseman Ivan Provorov had a goal and two assists and Boone Jenner also scored to help Columbus win its third straight and move within a point of Boston. The Blue Jackets were coming off a back-to-back sweep, beating the Rangers 5-4 in overtime in New York on Monday night and Nashville on Tuesday night to open a four-game homestand.

Defenseman Niko Mikkola and Sam Bennett scored for Florida in a 5:36 span of the third period.

Gustav Forsling appeared to tie it with 2:55 to go, but Columbus successfully challenged for goaltender interference. Olivier then put it away with an empty-netter with 1:42 left.

Provorov scored on a power play at 5:08 of the first, firing in a wrist shot from the blue line. Olivier struck on a tip with 9:10 left in the second, and Jenner beat goalie Daniil Tarasov from close range at 1:41 of the third. Jenner returned after missing a game because of a lower-body injury.

Mikkola scored on a tip at 9:08 of the third, and Bennett pulled the Panthers within one on a power play with 5:16 left.

Tarasov stopped 23 shots.

A day ahead of the NHL trade deadline, the Panthers sent 38-year-old defenseman Jeff Petry to Minnesota for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2026.

Panthers: At Detroit on Friday night.

Blue Jackets: Host Utah on Saturday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhla

Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) celebrates after scoring in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)