Showdown

Canada and USA meet on Saturday (not at high noon) and only one team will move on...

• It'll be Team USA against Team Canada in the IIHF Worlds semifinals, what better to watch on Saturday night?[WEEI]


• Frank Vatrano assisted on the game winning overtime goal that sent David Pastrnak and Team Czech Republic home.[MassLive]


• Looking back, there is one area in which the Bruins need to improve to compete- drafting young talent. Cost effective youngsters brought up in a team's system can go a long way to help the bottom line.[TheBostonGlobe]


• ...deja vu all over again![@DanCagen]


• David Pastrnak 's mom gets a little emotional over his games. And isn't David's dog adorable? (Google translation)[iSport] Watch the video here. (In Czech)[iSport]


• The OHL Knights vs. WHL Red Deer Rebels is a family affair for Jake DeBrusk and his father.[LondonFreePress]


• Jimmy Hayes was the keynote speaker at a Boston Herald gathering, where he talked to young athletes about resilience.[BotonHerald]

Elsewhere around the rink:

• A number of NHLers have been informed that they're going to be free to accept other offers. The Red Wings [TheHockeyNews] the Predators [THN] and the Senators [THN] will be leaving veterans behind.


• Former Bruin Daniel Paille has signed with Brynäs IF of the SHL. (Google translation)[Expressen]


• Thirty Thoughts reminds us that apparently conflicting answers about Steven Stamkos ' prognosis are honest, it is just that his situation is in truth a moving target.[Sportsnet]


• NHL All-Star John Scott has opened a Twitter account, because of course.[BarDown]


• One North American former NHLer found his happy niche playing overseas for Kazakhstan... [Sportsnet] ...while another came to regret signing to play for a KHL team that operated like a nightmare out of the old Soviet system.[BuffaloHockeyBeat]


• Eight is great- Sean McIndoe offers his lessons learned from the four teams remaining in the Stanley Cup hunt.[Sportsnet]