Fresh Links: Hot and Cold

Stay home and stay warm and safe, Bruins fans.

• Want Bruins hockey tonight? Not happening- there’s too much snow, but there are other options. Stanley Cup of Chowder
• The Panthers would have arrived in Boston also on a hot streak. Fox Sports
• The same Bruins lineup tonight that you saw against the Islanders on Tuesday night had been expected for tonight. Bruce Cassidy lauded Brandon Carlo for quickly moving on from the error that contributed to the Islanders’ only goal. Boston Globe
• Cassidy denies concern about David Pastrnak’s goal-less streak, as the team as a whole is succeeding. Being the winger of oh-so-sympatico Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand poses special challenges. Press Herald
• Speaking of hot, the Bruins’ fourth line (Tim Schaller, Sean Kuraly, Noel Acciari) is earning big minutes playing a simple game. Bruins Daily Are they the Cliche Line? Riley Nash queried Kuraly about sticking to the basics, and having celebrated the assist harder than Schaller did the goal on Tuesday night. (Video, 1:53) Bruins NHL Interestingly, Acciari’s hit parade thus far this season has resulted in exactly ZERO penalties. @MickColageo
• And how ‘bout the third line? The return of David Backes has sparked Nash and Danton Heinen, who not only score, but employ dump-ins and deliberate rebounds to harry and tire opponents. Patriot Ledger
• Time spent in Providence allowed Heinen to perfect his compete level, here’s hoping this trip down I95 will help Anders Bjork as well. Bonus- Adam McQuaid is off injured reserve. Boston Herald
• Maybe Heinen can at least merit Calder Trophy mention, alongside teammate Charlie McAvoy. The Hockey Writers
• Congratulations to very busy Ryan Donato of Harvard, he has now been named the ECAC Hockey Player of both the week AND month. Go Crimson If you’re not familiar with Donato, here is a brief introduction. Causeway Crowd
• Willie O’Ree now marks sixty years since making his groundbreaking debut in the NHL- and no, it wasn’t remarkable for the fact that he was blind in one eye. TSN
• The photo that Ray Lussier of the Boston Record American captured of Bobby Orr in flight documents one of the top two NHL moments, and is among the overall top sports snaps of all time. Kaplan Herald
• As for the standings, (NHL) the Bruins hold a two-point lead over their Atlantic Division rival Maple Leafs with three games in hand and sit at fourth in the Eastern Conference. The whispers have begun- the Bruins are looking more and more like Stanley Cup contenders. Puck Prose

Elsewhere around the rink:

• Ignore the swirling snow outside! Picture this pristine lake ice in British Columbia and imagine yourself skating on it. (With video, pictures) BarDown
• Ignore the swirling snow outside, part deux. Here is a compilation of historical photos including ladies playing in Toronto at the turn of the century as well as Canadian soldiers in Korea making the most of the cold to play an outdoor game. BarDown
• Trade rumors are also swirling, as noted in 31 Thoughts, and Max Pacioretty must be bumming- he and his family just bought a house in Montreal. Also of note is the end of the Bergeron line’s 5-on-5 impenetrability, Marchand’s offensive zone wizardry, and Ryan Spooner ’s observations on both (#21, 22) as well as the reason for his own resurgence (#23, 24). Also, another case in support of McAvoy for the Calder Trophy (#25). Sportsnet
• The Bruins are clawing their way up this week’s power ranking at midterm. Is this really the same team we saw this autumn? Sportsnet
• Former Bruins are strutting their stuff in the tournaments that Canada is using to assess possible Olympians, including Chris Kelly (Spengler Cup), Max Talbot (Channel One Cup), and Daniel Paille (Sochi Hockey Open). Team Canada