The Providence Bruins and Hershey Bears have circled each other warily and split their first two games in the Calder Cup Atlantic Division Final.
- Providence shot out of the gate to win Game #1 on the strength of two shorthanded goals (our recap here) only to fall in overtime the next day. (our recap here)
- The NHL expansion draft looms, and a mixture of must-have as well as contractually advantaged Bruins will be protected. Bonus- don’t look past Zane McIntyre makes his case in Providence to be Tuukka Rask’s backup. Boston Herald
- What has changed for McIntyre this season? He has tapped a reserve of mental resilience, which has not gone unnoticed by his coaches. Bonus- his vanity plate sums up his target. Providence Journal Here’s a quick interview with McIntyre and his coach. (Video, 2:17) WPRI
- Just follow this off season checklist to fix what ails the Bruins, as the lingering issue of an aging core strikes again. Too Many Men On The Site
- Or follow this prescription of five key moves for success in 2017-18, including locking up David Pastrnak. Boston.com
- Once again, congratulations to Torey Krug, who can now add a sheepskin to his bag of tricks. Now quit playing around and get a REAL JOB, eh? Bruins NHL
Elsewhere around the rink:
- It has been a while since the need for an NHL expansion draft, so dive in and read about the pertinent details and loopholes. Part #1 (Hockeybuzz) explains a few of the finer points of picking a new team from scratch, and the key factors to consider. Part #2 (Hockeybuzz) takes a closer look at the strictures of no-movement clauses, when they can be waived, and how they will affect the pool from which the Golden Knights may choose players.
- The Bettman expects players to leave their politics at home. Forbes
- Remember the Cape Cod Cubs/Cape Codders from the 1970s? Take a look at the team that played in the league that inspired “Slap Shot” under GM Jack Crawford, a former Bruin, who collapsed at a game and ultimately did not recover. CapeCod.com
- Brooks Orpik was unceremoniously discarded in a Washington, DC dumpster. Was Barry Trotz behind this? NO, REALLY! Elbow News