Hitting The Links: Trial By Fire Edition

So this is fun, word out of the Calgary camp is that the Flames will be starting not Miikka Kipprusoff, but their fresh-faced rookie Leland Irving. Oddly enough, considering the Flames are not a team we see very often, those among us familiar with Providence have encountered this guy before.

The Abbottsford Heat, the Flames' AHL affiliate, have made a really long east-coast swing every year for the past few years. They're one of the few West Conference teams the P-Bruins meet each year, and in fact, Irving played in both contests between the two teams last year. Two games isn't a lot, but it's enough to at least maybe get an idea of how the guy plays.

After the jump, Rick Nash is having a bad year, Rene Bourque won't play against the Bruins, and Tuukka Rask wants to be here for a long time...

Bruins News:

• Tim Thomas was in Men's Health magazine this month! [Men's Health]
• God this Stanley Cup rematch set for Saturday is so overhyped, GEEZ. [PHT]
• The Devils are considering yesterday their "worst game of the year." [Herald]
• Tuukka Rask wants a 'long future' with Boston, which is good to hear. [NESN]
• The Bruins are manhandling the rest of the Northeast Division. And here is a review of NHL 36. [WEEI]
• The Flames are giving us Leland Irving. It's like they're sacrificing him to a volcano or something based on the tone of this article. [Calgary Herald]
• Nathan Horton is showing signs of life. [Herald]

NHL News:

• The first 6 NHL All-Stars will be released in about a half-hour. [NHL]
• John Tortorella was fined for his angry remarks about the refereeing in the Winter Classic. [USA Today]
• Lars Eller scored four goals as the Habs beat the Thrashers Jets last night. [CTV]
• Rene Bourque will start his five-game suspension tonight after targeting the head of Nicklas Backtrom the other night. [ESPN]
• Rick Nash is having easily his toughest season, and he's apparently agreed to, if necessary, waive his NTC. [Blue Jackets Extra]