Catharsis

Looking back at the season that was, it wasn't all bad...

• The Bruins offer their annual end-of-season thank you to the fans. (Video, 2:30)[Bruins.NHL]


• The reality is that the first pick is unlikely for the Bruins. Just in case Lady Luck smiles, who would be a target as the second or third pick?[WEEI]


• Mark Divver offers his final thoughts on the Providence Bruins' season. They came a long way from the somber start of their season.[ProvidenceJournal]


• When George Plimpton took to Boston Garden ice as a goalie in an exhibition game against the very nasty Flyers, he was the everyman living the ordinary joe's sporting fantasies.[VanityFair] More information here. [NHL]

Elsewhere around the rink:

• And your Vezina Trophy finalists are...[TheHockeyNews]


• It was Roberto Luongo for the win once again- he made a suggestion to the new hockey fan that has made such a big splash on Twitter.[WEEI]


• Still upset about not making the playoffs? Here are the first round NHL playoff upsets that still sting to this day.[TheHockeyNews]


• Sometimes the only thing between an underdog team and victory in the Stanley Cup playoffs is belief.[SportsIllustrated]


• Matt Murray had a mystery benefactor as a kid- he later discovered that it was former Bruin Alex Auld that had donated eight kits of goalie equipment to youth hockey players in Thunder Bay, ON.[TorontoSun]