Fresh Links: Carry A Torch Edition

The Bruins scored four freekin' goals last night! Next, the Sabres will host the Bruins Saturday evening at 7 PM.

• Give and take? The Bruins offense improved as their defense stumbled. Oh, and the torch ceremony was "loud and cheesy." [BostonHerald]
• Three takeaway points, looking ahead. [Boston.com]
• Mental mistakes are the biggest obstacle so far, in Andy Brickley's analysis. (With video, 1:36) [NESN]
• Nope, the Bruins are still not in panic mode. [WinnpegFreePress]
• There were shenanigans: Milan Lucic and Brad Marchand were among the miscreants. On the bright side, for stretches, the Bruins' "aggressive forechecking and diagonal, against-the-grain attacking passes" stymied the Habs. [TheGlobeAndMail]
• Tuukka Rask was targeted by a laser pointer coming from the stands. [NESN]
• Soooo... when WILL the Bruins dump this funk they're in? [WEEI]

Elsewhere around the rink:

• Cautionary tale: What happens when an OHL team owner has overblown hockey ambitions for his own son? "Carnage." [TheHockeyNews]
• Lack of progress in training points to Daniel Alfredsson approaching retirement. [DetroitFreePress]
• Are the knives sharpening for Dallas Eakins after another slow start for the Oilers? [Sportsnet]
• Sorry, Rogers, HNIC as we knew it is dead. Here's an obituary. [VanCityBuzz]
• There has not yet been a single payment made on Nationwide Arena, the home of the Blue Jackets. [ColumbusDispatch]
• Alumnus Jimmy Howard spoke about USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. (Video, 2:27) [YouTube]