Fresh Links: Calgary AHLert Edition

<p><b> Tonight the Boston Bruins face the Calgary Flames- pour a steaming quad espresso for this one to stay AHLert, puck drop is 9:30pm Eastern! </b></p>

<ul>

<li> When we left off on Sunday, the depleted Bruins had managed a solid win over the Leafs with players from Providence.  Claude Julien attributed the success to having the AHL Bruins also focus on defense first, and recruiting players that can work well in that system. [<a href="http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131209/SPORTS13/312090306/-1/NEWS06">SouthCoastToday</a>]</li>

<li> Calgary greeted Jarome Iginla warmly, and he will play before family, friends, former teammates, and fans tonight. Having been denied a proper goodbye, the Flames have prepared a tribute. [<a href="http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/12/09/jarome-iginla-finally-returns-to-calgary-in-bruins-colours--just-in-time-for-snowstorm">CalgarySun</a>]</li>

<li> West Test: Remember when Matt Bartkowski almost became a Flame? On Thursday, it's hello, Andrew Ference and the Oilers. The Bruins return Saturday to Vancouver for the first time since hoisting the cup. [<a href="http://www.patriotledger.com/sports/x1069228375/Bruins-face-tests-out-West?zc_p=0">PatriotLedger</a>]</li>

<li> Reilly Smith and Carl Soderberg continue to be the gifts that keep giving, which has become important to an injury-ravaged Bruins team. [<a href="http://nesn.com/2013/12/reilly-smith-carl-soderberg-become-key-parts-of-bruins-offense-as-injuries-test-teams-forward-depth/">NESN</a>]</li>

<li> Adding insult to injury, the flu has struck the Bruins. Claude Julien is optimistic that Johnny Boychuk (the OTHER Albertan) may be able to play tonight. [<a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/ipswich/blogs/mobileghmne/x1275650216/Flu-bug-the-latest-ailment-for-banged-up-Bruins">WickedLocal</a>]</li>

<li> As for the depleted Providence Bruins, here's the good, the bad, and the ugly of last weekend. [<a href="http://blogs.providencejournal.com/sports/bruins/2013/12/p-bruins-weekend-plusses-and-minuses-7.html">Providence Journal</a>]</li>

</ul>

<p><b> In the Twitterverse: </p></b>

<ul>

<li> New dad Bobby Robins has found a babysitter. [<a href="https://twitter.com/bobbyRRRobins/status/408409311715414016">@bobbyRRRobins</a>]</li>

<li> Ryan Spooner congratulates Malcolm Subban on a fine weekend. [<a href="https://twitter.com/RSpooner2376/status/407373831297200128">@RSpooner2376</a>]</li>

<li> Mark your calendars for next year's festival. [<a href="https://twitter.com/Jord38caron/status/401782257536352257">@Jord38caron</a>]</li>

<li> The November Project is now official! [<a href="https://twitter.com/alliehalla/status/403984212510121985">@alliehalla</a>]</li>

<li> I didn't know they still HAD telephone booths, let alone how many hockey players would fit into one! [<a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeParros/status/408065255953018881/photo/1">@GeorgeParros</a>]</li>

<li> Hal Gill, living on the edge. [<a href="https://twitter.com/Skillsy75/status/408012639072038912">@Skillsy75</a>]</li>

</ul>

<p><b> Elsewhere around the rink: </p></b>

<ul>

<li> Jay Rosehill speaks at length on fighting-- and why the media has a dog in the fight. (Video, 3:32) [<a href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/former-leaf-rosehill-supports-thornton/">Sportsnet</a>]</li>

<li> The Shawsheen Valley Tech H.S. has been invited to demonstrate their trebuchet between periods at a Providence Bruins game. [<a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/billerica/features/x919113149/Shawsheen-team-shines-at-trebuchet-competition">WickedLocal</a>]</li>

<li> Brian Cazeneuve weighs in on the body count in the BOS/PIT game, and ponders where the rules and the Code intersect. [<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nhl/news/20131209/nhl-fighting-shawn-thornton-brooks-orpik-attack/">SportsIllustrated</a>]</li>

<li> There was one notable difference between James Neal's and Shawn Thornton's actions on Saturday. [<a href="http://bloguin.com/puckdrunklove/2013-articles/december/on-shawn-thornton-james-neal-stupid-actions-and-apologies.html">PuckDrunkLove</a>]</li>

<li> "The Wrath of Grapes" was incurred by Shawn Thornton, who was the first Bruin to lay a smackdown on then Penguin Matt Cooke for the unpenalized hit that sidelined Marc Savard.  Thornton's legacy as a "good guy" may be tarnished. [<a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/blogs/obnoxiousbostonfan/2013/12/thornton_no_longer_bruins_good_bad_guy.html">Boston.com</a>]</li>

<li> Andrew Ference saw genuine remorse in Shawn Thornton's apology, and Dallas Eakins vouches for Thornton's character in "an unfortunate situation for everybody." [<a href=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/12/09/edmonton-oilers-captain-andrew-ference-believes-shawn-thornton-remorseful-over-brooks-orpik-incident?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter">EdmontonSun</a>]</li>

<li> Salary Cap Hike Ahoy! [<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/12/9/5194188/nhl-salary-cap-projected-to-be-around-71-million">SBNation</a>]</li>

</ul>