Fresh Links: InPredible Edition

<p><b> The Bruins pounced on the Predators and stitched together two whole wins ahead of the Christmas break! </b></p>

<ul>

<li> Enjoy this GIF recap, including one of chanteur Rene Rancourt. To Steph Vail, Merry Christmas and thanks! [<a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/extras/bruins_blog/2014/12/boston_bruins_5-3_win_over_the_nashville_predators_in_gifs.html?camp=rss:bruins&dlvrit=834387">Boston.com</a>]</li>

<li> The Bruins managed a stronger second period than usual against the weary Predators. [<a href="http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20141223/SPORTS/141228447/12346/SPORTS">PatriotLedger</a>]</li>

<li> Observations from the game: Yay, power play! Teammates bail out Tuukka Rask for a change. (With video)[<a href="http://nesn.com/2014/12/improved-power-play-among-takeaways-from-bruins-win-over-predators/">NESN</a>]</li>

<li> Rask took responsibilty for his off night. Claude Julien was happy overall, but for the brief stretch the Bruins played on their heels. [<a href="http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/bruins/content/20141223-bruins-hang-on-for-5-3-win-over-nashville.ece">ProvidenceJournal</a>]</li>

<li> As hard as we've been on Matt Bartkowski, he was on his game last night. Chris Kelly was glad for a pair of assists. [<a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/bruins_nhl/boston_bruins/2014/12/bruins_notebook_bartkowski_shines_in_win">BostonHerald</a>]</li>

<li> Bartkowski's assist was a beauty. The scoop behind the NHL Christmas break. Playing like Carl Soderberg means taking the game to heart and showing up ready to play. [<a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/12/24/after-three-day-break-bruins-resume-schedule-against-blue-jackets/jl6JJMo8YiiDpvruFdYGoI/story.html">TheBostonGlobe</a>]</li>

<li> Remember Matt Fraser? He's still ahead of where he was in Dallas. [<a href="http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20141223/SPORTS/141228444/12346/SPORTS">PatriotLedger</a>]</li>

<li> The return of David Krejci has lifted a weight from Patrice Bergeron 's shoulders. [<a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/12/24/with-david-krejci-back-patrice-bergeron-plays-strong-game-for-bruins/N26QYwJjo7Mw2W50znKiAI/story.html">TheBostonGlobe</a>]</li>

<li> Krejci is happy to be rounding back into form. For now, he'll just avoid reading his stats, thank you very much. [<a href="http://causewaycrowd.com/2014/12/23/boston-bruins-david-krejci-taking-advice/">CausewayCrowd</a>]</li>

<li> Loui Eriksson 's quiet competence is beginning to show up on the scoreboard. [<a href="http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20141223/SPORTS/141228454/2000/NEWS">MetroWestDailyNews</a>]</li>

<li> Brad Marchand had the date circled on his calendar last night, and came within a goal of revisiting a special anniversary. These days, Eriksson is just plain feelin' it. [<a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/bruins/post/_/id/17857/marchand-eriksson-provide-nice-send-off">ESPN</a>]</li>

<li> Cheer up, Bruins fans, the team is approaching full, healthy strength. [<a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/bruins/post/_/id/17849/bs-almost-back-to-full-strength">ESPN</a>]</li>

<li> Dennis Seidenberg recognized the Predators' new style under new coach Peter Laviolette, as they were together in the Hurricanes organization for a few years. [<a href="http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20141223/SPORTS/141228493/2000/NEWS">MetroWestDailyNews</a>]</li>

<li> It wouldn't seem festive without Rene Rancourt singing, now, would it? (Video, 0:30) [<a href="http://video.bruins.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=708929">Bruins.NHL</a>]</li>

</ul>

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

<ul>

<li> Need a last minute gift? Here are some hockey-themed suggestions. [<a href="http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/the-definitive-guide-to-last-minute-gifts-for-the-hockey-fan-who-has-everything/">TheHockeyNews</a>]</li>

<li> There are 220 million reasons to be thankful for the Ice Bucket Challenge. [<a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/blogs/obnoxiousbostonfan/2014/12/220_million_later_ice_bucket_challenge_is_gift_that_keeps_on_giving.html">ObnoxiousBostonFan</a>]</li>

<li> The Dallas Stars are consummate jumbotron trolls. They take on North Korea this time. [<a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2014-12-24/kim-jong-un-dallas-stars-joke-santa-claus-naughty-list-internet-down-the-interview-jumbotron">TheSportingNews</a>]</li>

<li> Seasons Greetings from the Ottawa Senators! (Video, 2:41) [<a href="http://video.senators.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=1416&id=707935">Senators.NHL</a>]</li>

<li> Thanks to TSN, the IIHF World Junior Championship has become must-watch holiday TV. [<a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/12/23/how-tsn-turned-the-world-juniors-into-a-pillar-of-seasonal-programming-and-changed-canadas-tv-landscape/">NationalPost</a>]</li>

<li> It has been all Happy Holidays down in Florida, as the Panthers play themselves into the playoff mix... [<a href="http://www.foxsports.com/florida/story/florida-panthers-relish-hard-fought-shootout-win-over-pittsburgh-penguins-122314">FoxSports</a>]</li>

<li> ... and here is their holiday video. You may want to turn down your speakers, just sayin'. (Video, 1:11) [<a href="http://www2.tsn.ca/bardown/Story.aspx?Florida%2bPanthers%2bget%2binto%2bthe%2bholiday%2bspirit&id=481652">BarDown</a>]</li>

<li> Connor who? Focus on these ten world juniors instead- David Pastrnak and his bosom chum William Nylander , for example.) [<a href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/ten-players-to-watch-at-world-junior-championship-not-named-connor-mcdavid-world-juniors-wjc-william-nylander-david-pastrnak-canada/">SportsNet</a>]</li>

<li> Here's the NHL All-Hannukah team, with some surprises, and some ringers. [<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/mike-cammalleri--eric-nystrom-lead-nhl-s--hanukkah-all-stars---puck-daddy-rankings-170719401.html">PuckDaddy</a>]</li>

<li> There are humans at the heart of the Candian junior system lawsuit. Here is one player's story. [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/sports/hockey/lawsuits-target-canadian-junior-hockey-league-system.html">NYTimes</a>]</li>

<li> To heck with the Burning Yule Log video, you need this loop playing on the TV in the background of your festivities. [<a href="http://www2.tsn.ca/bardown/Story.aspx?Zamboni%2bice%2bclearing%2bis%2bthe%2bnew%2b%2522fire%2blog%2bchannel%2522&id=481560">BarDown</a>]</li>

<li> Here's your long holiday read on Mark Spector's book about the Battle of Alberta, back when the 1984 Oilers and Flames were a big story. [<a href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/spector-battle-of-alberta-rivalry-still-matters/">SportsNet</a>]</li>

<li> Have a gander at these possible logos for a possible Las Vegas team. [<a href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/las-vegas-black-knights-and-x-other-mock-logos/">SportsNet</a>]</li>

</ul>