Fresh Links: Precarious Perch

The Bruins take it on the road to face the Predators tomorrow evening at 8:00PM on NESN.

• The Bruins bring a solid road game record to Smashville, who are coming off a 5-4 shootout loss to Anaheim- hey, we feel your pain! Fox Sports
• A blown lead benefitted the Oilers but the Bruins’ power play point streak and David Pastrnak’s goal total were extended, which was nice, even as the team’s point streak in the standings died at 8. 985 The Sports Hub
• Although they maintain the top spot in the Atlantic Division, Boston doesn’t seem very secure on their perch in the NHL overall. Boston Globe
• Slump. There, I said it. SLUMP. Boston Herald
• As demonstrated by shot heat maps, the Bruins offense during Saturday’s loss to the Oilers was tepid to cool. Gotta be better, Bruins! HockeyBuzz
• Among ten bold predictions for 2020 is the assertion that Don Sweeney will cave and acquire a top-six winger, only after another look at Jack Studnicka, who really should be allowed to develop. (Hard paywall) Boston Sports Journal
• He doesn’t play on the edge, and Par Lindholm’s defense-first mentality suits his role with the Bruins. Bonus- there’s a bug being passed around, Matt Grzelcyk is the latest to fall ill. Milford Daily News
• Steven Kampfer, who stepped in for Grzelcyk on Saturday, has returned to Providence. CBS Sports
• Find out which Bruins are aces and pylons at two-touch soccer. Who is likeliest to be climbing the ladder to recover balls launched into the ceiling pipes? (Video, 2:05) Bruins NHL
• Meanwhile, in Providence, Paul Carey and Jack Studnicka have received a well-earned AHL honor, and the team just hasn’t had much luck on home ice. Rinkside Rhode Island

NHL Standings:

• The Bruins top the Atlantic Division, ahead of the Maple Leafs by 7 points NHL, and trail only the Capitals in the Eastern Conference NHL as well as the NHL overall, although tied with the Blues at 59 points. (Standings have been pretty sticky, but links are NOT STATIC) NHL
• David Pastrnak is the NHL’s top goal scorer (now with 31 tallies) Brad Marchand joins him among points leaders, and Marchand is also an assist leader. Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak remain leaders in all three netminding performance categories. (Links are NOT STATIC) NHL

Elsewhere around the rink:

• In news of former Bruins: For the Jets, Blake Wheeler is number one! Odessa American The Maple Leafs seemed to have lost faith in Michael Hutchinson, but he pitched a shutout in Toronto’s 3-1 win over the Islanders Saurday. TSN The Panthers pounced on the Penguins in Pittsburgh and won, Ageless Brett Connolly and Frank Vatrano scored (it was 4-1). TSN
• And that was the week that was. Potpourri from around the NHL include an AHL player missing a callup due to a misplaced passport, womp, womp. ESPN
• Decade in review- the best NHL defensive forwards. Three guesses who is number one. The Hockey Writers
• Congratulations, Team Canada, who beat the Russians in a come-from-behind win at the World Junior Championships. The Hockey News
• And the WJC gold goes to... THE TSN CENTRE ICE CAMERA! Can an NHL contract be far behind? NO, REALLY! The Beaverton