Fresh Links: Street Smart

The Bruins were out and about in the community ahead of this weekend’s trip to Smashville on Satuday to face the Predators at 8:00PM on NESN. They return home to host the Dallas Stars on Monday at 7:00PM.

• Taking it to the street- Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron were in Allston to help open the new Willie O’Ree Community Rink in Allston and launch the street hockey league that will play there. Boston Globe
• The cumulative damage from repeated (unpenalized) head shots has David Backes rightly concerned. Yahoo Sports
• Cassidy admires David Backes’ work with the Bruins youngsters, and is not averse to throwing yet another start at Jaroslav Halak. South Coast Today
• Joakim Nordstrom is juggling a lot of assignments for his new team . Boston Herald
• Ryan Donato is going to put in some time in Providence. Bonus- news of the Bruins’ walking wounded. HockeyBuzz
• Welcome back to Boston, Steven Kampfer! You’ve sure been a handy addition this season, considering all the roster surprises the Bruins have weathered so far. Chowder and Champions
• So you’re saying there’s a chance... Bruce Cassidy has tossed around ideas with Patrice Bergeron about who might be a candidate to replace David Pastrnak on the NHL’s best line. Boston Herald
• That secondary scoring currently eluding the Bruins will move to top priority very soon, according to Cam Neely. WEEI
• Brace yourselves! If the Bergeron line is broken up, here’s what trickledown effects you might expect to see in all lines. Bruins Daily
• Meanwhile in Providence, have a gander at this week #5 preview for the Providence Bruins. Shipping up to Causeway

Elsewhere around the rink:

• Dive into 31 Thoughts, and consider the unintended effects of gambling on sports. Bonus: How Claude Julien adapted to change (#28) and the peril of any team’s well-meaning, quick response in marking a tragedy (#31). Sportsnet
• Dateline- Helsinki: Patrik Laine notched a hat trick, leading the Jets to a 4-2 victory over the Panthers in their Global Series game yesterday. Star Tribune And because everything is more fun in Finnish, enjoy this replay of Laine’s highlights. YouTube
• Speaking of international venues, the Bettman is hot for the NHL to compete in Prague and Stockholm during the regular season. Sportsnet
• Rushing youngsters into NHL action against grown men is not a gamble that always pays off. Sportsnet
• We have witnessed the agonizing, progressive decline of the Montreal Canadiens. How did it come to this for Nos Glorieux? The Guardian