Fresh Links: Blue Christmas

The Bruins host the Blue Jackets tonight at TD Garden, tune in at 7:00PM on NESN.

• Here’s what to expect in Boston’s and Columbus’ first meeting this season. Fox Sports
• Bullet points from the New Year’s Eve Day matinee loss against the Devils 3-2 include a blown lead and another unsuccessful shootout. Bruins Daily
• But it was 2-0! The Devils doubled down after falling behind. Now injuries are mounting- Connor Clifton exited the game with an upper body issue. Providence Journal
• Jaroslav Halak went full milkcrates postgame, with good reason. @_AlexJulianne
• Help Wanted- may not be time to panic, but the team surely could use some help from the muddled middle guys. Boston Herald
• At the end of the year, review the good and bad of the Bruins so far this season. Yeah, the Tuukka Rask / Jaroslav Halak goalie tandem is tops. This season’s villain is not a player. Boston Globe

NHL Standings:

• The Bruins still rule the Atlantic Division NHL, and trail only the Capitals in the Eastern Conference NHL as well as the NHL overall. (Standings have been pretty sticky, but links are NOT STATIC) NHL
• David Pastrnak is the NHL’s top goal scorer, he and Brad Marchand are both among points leaders and assist leaders. On the netminding side, Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak remain among the leaders in all three performance categories. (Links are NOT STATIC) NHL

Elsewhere around the rink:

• 31 Thoughts has good news for former Bruin Anton Khudobin (#4) as well as Jaroslav Halak and their fellow 1A/Backup goaltenders on the market. Sportsnet
• Each NHL team should work toward these resolutions in the New Year. The Hockey News
• Ty Anderson offers a potpourri of observations from around the league on New Year’s Eve, His head is in the right place over John Tortorella’s complaint, unlike Colin Campell’s. HockeyBuzz
• As if a $20,000 fine and a stern finger wagging were not enough for John Tortorella, he has been assessed an additional ‘conditional fine’ for his criticism of officials. Yahoo Sports
• Paul Stewart weighs in on Tortorella’s complaint. HockeyBuzz
• This week’s NHL power ranking notes the rise of the Blues, but hey, the Bruins are still in third place! Boston Herald Compare and contrast with this power ranking. ESPN
• Travis Yost grumbles about the playoff structure, and this year’s divisional imbalance adds fuel to his ire. TSN
• Memories! Current NHLers look back on their experiences at the World Junior Championship. Sporting News
• A defenseman in the lead for the Calder Trophy? This and nine other things will shape the NHL in the new year. NHL
• Trade rumors have the Bruins (among others) sniffing around Chris Kreider. Brandon Saad and Craig Anderson may also be on the move. The Hockey News
• The Stars rallied from behind to beat the Predators 4-2 in the Winter Classic. Speaking of predators, Corey Perry was ejected from the game for elbowing Ryan Ellis... Yahoo Sports ...and now Perry faces a hearing for the incident. Sportsnet
• The Winter Classic was more fun than just a game, Texas style. NBC Sports
• Next year’s Winter Classic will be hosted by the Wild against a yet-to-be-determined opponent. Yahoo Sports
• Another year, another chance to browbeat teenage hockey players. Welcome to the World Junior Chamionship! NO, REALLY! The Beaverton