Boston Bruins: Last Skate Of The Day, April 15, 2014

Mar 27, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center

(37) celebrates with defenseman

(43) and right wing

(18) after scoring a goal during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Bruins are gearing up for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They know their opponent is hungry and looking to drop a major upset. There has been generations of buildup for this Original Six matchup, and the Detroit Red Wings will be no pushover. (Boston Bruins)

The Bruins players and Coach Claude Julien took a moment to remember the tragedy of last year’s attack at the Boston Marathon as well.

It’s not often you have to stare down your own kid brother in an attempt to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, but it’s going to happen this week. Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith will be doing just that as he takes on his kid brother, Bruins forward Reilly Smith in round one starting on Friday.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. I guess it would be his first playoff game and I heard that he’s pretty jacked up, he’s told me a few times and just to play a playoff series in general is exciting and it’s really exciting that I’m going to be playing against my little brother.”

Brendan Smith on facing his brother Reilly

Read more on the Smiths at the Detroit Red Wings home site: (Detroit Red Wings)

Shawn Thornton is one of my favorite players on the Bruins. He’s not some simple grinder, he brings energy and resolve to the Bruins infamous ‘Merlot Line’. When he’s not on the ice, he’s the head of his charitable organization, The Shawn Thornton Foundation. He’s also a pillar in the community, and a rather outstanding human being. He may be just “A Canadian with a green card” (his own words folks), but he’s become a Bostonian at heart. (CSNNE)

Barry Trotz has been the only head coach the Nashville Predators has ever known. His exit is an end of an era for the Predators, and now both Trotz and the Preds get their chances to go their separate ways amicably and move on towards other things. (Nashville Predators)

It’s official, the Florida Panthers won the golden ticket in the 2014 NHL Draft Lottery. It’s the third year in a row that the number two seed won the big prize, and the Panthers organization is profoundly excited to get their chance to grab the best of a solid selection of draft picks in June. (Florida Panthers)