Fresh Links: Many Happy Returns

The Bruins host the Islanders tonight at 7:00PM on NBCSN.

• Tonight’s matchup in a nutshell is against the Islanders, who trail the Bruins in the standings by only three points. Fox Sports
• Standings aside, the Bruins have not looked right lately and should seize this chance to set the right tone moving forward. Providence Journal
• What has changed since 2018 when the Bruins were interested in Ilya Kovalchuk upon his initial return to the NHL? Boston should take a look at him again. HockeyBuzz
• Seconding the motion- the Bruins should do David Krejci a solid and land him this winger. Bonus- observations from the loss to the Kings including Tuukka Rask taking ownership and praise for Danton Heinen. HockeyBuzz
• The Expendables? With healthy players returning to action, something’s got to give - Brett Ritchie and Par Lindholm may find themselves on the outside looking in. Causeway Crowd
• Remember Zach Senyshyn? He made good impression before being sidelined by injury, and hopes to make a strong comeback. Bonus- updates on the other injured Bruins. Boston Herald
• Revisit the pivotal Bruins Draft Class of 2006, which was sprinkled with the magic dust that helped land the 2011 Stanley Cup. The Hockey Writers
• Meanwhile, Maxime Legace eared a shutout as the PBruins laid QUOTA on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the win last night. They now sit atop the AHL Atlantic Division. Providence Bruins
• Lend your ears to The Skate Podcast, with guest Bob McKenzie. (Audio, 26:42) WEEI

NHL Standings:

• The Bruins still rule the Atlantic Division NHL, and trail only the Capitals in the Eastern Conference, NHL but the Blues have risen up to take adavantage as the Bruins have now dropped into third place in the NHL overall. (Standings have been pretty sticky, but links are NOT STATIC) NHL
• Despite recent hiccups, David Pastrnak remains the NHL’s top goal scorer, he joins Brad Marchand among points leaders, and Marchand is also an assist leader. On the netminding side , Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak remain among the netminding leaders (although Rask is no longer among the best save pecentages) and are within spitting distance of each other. (Links are NOT STATIC) NHL

Elsewhere around the rink:

• USA Today’s now former NHL beat writer Kevin Allen bids us all adieu from a now familiar place. But oh, the stories he has from his tenure! USA Today
• The AHL Springfield Thunderbirds have changed their team name (temporarily) in honor of The Simpsons’ 30th anniversary. NHL
• Calgary Flames assistant GM Chris Snow has been diagnosed with ALS, which sadly runs in his family. Sporting News
• This power ranking has a “Christmas Trade Rumor Freeze” theme. Sportsnet
• 31 Thoughts is up! Who will be next on the NHL rental market? Take the quick trivia quiz (#21, answers at #30). The ranks of NHL officials has been decimated by injury recently (#23). Fond remembrances are shared of Scot Kleinendorst, who was felled by an industrial accident (#28). Sportsnet
• Dustin Byfuglien is working with the Jets during his rehab. What does that portend? TSN
• Justin Williams is training for a return to the Hurricanes- will it happen? TSN
• A goaltender and a referee stepped up to offer an opposing defenseman subbing in for his injured netminder tips and encouragement. Global News