(My Sportsbook) - Even though it was just their second loss in their last seven games, the Nashville Predators are now almost in a must-win situation seven games, the Nashville Predators are now almost in a must-win situation every night if they have any chance of reaching the postseason after their horrific start. horrific start.

On Tuesday, Joe Thornton finished with a goal and an assist to lead the Boston Bruins over the Predators, 2-1, at the FleetCenter.

Andreas Johansson scored the lone Nashville goal and Tomas Vokoun stopped 23 shots in net for the Predators, who had a two-game winning streak snapped and dropped to 4-2-1 over their last seven.

With a win the Preds would have drawn to within six points of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, currently occupied by the Colorado Avalanche. That alone is an amazing accomplishment considering the fact that Nashville won just two games over its first 20 of the season.

"We're just trying to win games," defenseman Andy Delmore said. "It doesn't matter whether it's for 13th place or 10th place or eighth place."

A sore spot as of late for the Predators has been the team's inconsistency on the power play. Nashville finished 0-for-3 with the man-advantage and ran its current drought to 0-for-17 with the man-advantage. Over their last 41 chances the Predators have tallied just two power-play goals.

"Obviously, we need to work on that because we need to get results," coach Barry Trotz said. "If it doesn't improve, we may have to make some changes in some players' roles."

Mike Knuble gave Boston the early lead with his 13th of the season. Glen Murray controlled the puck beneath the left circle and sent a pass in front of the net for Knuble, who stuffed it past Vokoun for the 1-0 advantage at 4:29 of the first.

"I knew he was there and I knew he was my man, but being close doesn't count for much," Andy Delmore said. "'I've got to be tighter on him and tie up his stick. If I do that, the goal doesn't happen."

Joe Thornton extended the Bruins' lead to two goals on a power play near the end of a tightly contested second period. Michal Grosek skated in on net and flipped a shot over Vokoun that hit off the crossbar and deflected to the netminder's right. Thornton fired the rebound home into a mostly empty net, giving Boston a 2-0 cushion with just 1:55 remaining in the second.

The only third-period tally was scored by Johansson, who pulled Nashville within a goal after a 2-on-1 rush set him up with a one-timer from the right within a goal after a 2-on-1 rush set him up with a one-timer from the right circle.

WHAT'S AHEAD

The Preds will head to Columbus on Thursday in their final game before the All-Star break.