The Predators (22-12-2, 46 points) come into the matchup with the league's fifth-most points, but have dropped the first three games of their four-game road trip and are just 8-7-3 away from Bridgestone Arena this season.
Nevertheless, Nashville presents a steep challenge. The Preds lead the league in goals against (2.47 per game), just ahead of the Bruins, who rank second at 2.54.
Cassidy said Boston's biggest test will be defending the Predators back end. The likes of Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Ellis boast a serious offensive threat - as does P.K. Subban, who has not played since Nov. 13 due to injury, but skated during the Preds' optional practice at Warrior Ice Arena on Friday
"It's incumbent on our forwards not to get beat up the ice and take bad angles," said Cassidy. "You'll see Ellis, Subban - I don't know if he's playing, doesn't appear that way - Ekholm, they get up. Matt Irwin gets up. They all do.
"It's part of how they play and attack as a group of five. That's the biggest challenge I think is containing those guys, getting in shooting lanes. They're good at getting their shots through.
"I'm not disrespecting their forward group, but I think that's what drives their offense a lot is their D being involved."
Nashville is led up front by Ryan Johansen (30 points) and Filip Forsberg (14 goals).
