Losing It

Playoff hopes are going to consume our thoughts for the next two and a half weeks. Thursday brings the Lightning to TD Garden to try their luck against the Bruins.

• The Senators rode in on their hot goaltender last night and stymied the Bruins once again, with playoff spots on the line. Please pass the popcorn! WEEI
• As the losses mount, the Bruins again find their future moving out of their own hands and into those of the teams that have beaten them. Patriot Ledger
• It is early to panic, but the Bruins 3-2 loss to the Senators marks their third straight loss and begins to look familiar- and not in a good way. Boston Globe
• David Pastrnak has gone quiet on the scoreboard. Opposing teams are successfully muscling him off the puck. Boston Globe
• At the same time, Pastrnak is about to negotiate his next contract, and, well, PAY THE MAN. The Score
• Surprisingly, last night marked the first return to TD Garden ice for former Bruin Chris Kelly. You may recall that he did not leave under his own power the last time. Patriot Ledger
• Take a look back at Don Cherry’s Boston Bruins- the team was rebuilt as the Lunch Pail A.C. to grind, dump, and chase. Maybe life imitated art, as the movie “Slapshot” was just hitting the theaters. Sports Illustrated

Elsewhere around the rink:

• Wednesday means that Thirty Thoughts are hot off the presses. Claude Giroux confirms what we all knew from watching David Krejci- recovery from a surgical hip repair is long and frustrating. Bruce Cassidy has learned a lot since his initial foray into coaching at the NHL level. Sportsnet
• Sidney Crosby is no saint. Look at this compilation of highlight reel cheap shots. (with video) Puck Daddy
• In a country as hockey crazed as Canada, the Senators ’ strength and conditioning coach is sounding a warning- youth are noticeably deficient in basic athletic skills. National Post
• The present NHL playoff structure is ‘stupid,’ and no, not just because we’re afraid the Bruins will finish outside of it this season. Globe and Mail