Dallas Stars Daily Links: Bruins Blank Blackhawks in Boston, Take Series Lead

The Boston Bruins are well on their way to beating the team-to-beat of this lockout shortened season, having blanked the Blackhawks 2-0, to take a two games to one lead in the Stanley Cup Final. Tuukka Rask improved on his already gaudy numbers this postseason, securing his third shutout of the tournament. He now has a GAA of 1.64, and a save percentage of .946, in 19 playoff games.

Daniel Paille and Patrice Bergeron provided the only offense the Bruins would need, as the Chicago offense was held to 28 shots and zero goals by the stingy Boston defense. The Blackhawks were considered the team to beat by most pundits, but the old saying "Defense Wins Championships" is once again being proven a legitimate statement.

These two teams will look to face off once again on Wednesday night, at TD Northbank Garden in Boston. [NHL]

Mac Engel of the FW Star Telegram ventures that while Nill would like to speak with Tippett, he'll probably have to settle for Lindy Ruff or Tortorella. [FWST]

Chicago's Marian Hossa missed the contest, as a late scratch due to an injury in warm-up. His spot in the Blackhawks lineup was filled by Boston College product, Ben Smith. [Boston Globe]

Hossa wasn't the only injury during warm-ups. A clumsy spill almost took out Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic before game-time. Both managed to tough it out and play their usual minutes, #becauseitsthecup. [Fox Sports]

Darnell Nurse is one of my favorite prospects in the NHL draft this season, and not just because he's Donovan McNabb's nephew (though that is pretty cool). The New York Times has a nice write-up on him, and how he took a different path in sports than the rest of his athletic family, and why hockey won out over football for him as a child. [New York Times]

The Nashville Predators seem to be taking a page out of the Dallas Stars guide to successfully running a southern hockey team. Former Stars President Jeff Cogen was part of the announcement of a new hockey complex to be built in Nashville, with two ice rinks inside. Anyone involved with the Stars will tell you that one of the keys to success for this franchise was the development of Dr. Pepper Starcenters. [Tennnessean]

The Chicago Tribune wrote a piece about the NHL's assertion that hockey is rapidly growing in popularity with minorities in this country. That's always a good sign, and with an NHL that is more diverse than ever, one has to think players like Darnell Nurse and Seth Jones are only going to help that trend continue to grow. [Chicago Tribune]

I thought I was a lucky man, because the man who married me and my wife threw on an authentic Mike Modano Stars jersey for the photographs after my wedding... but there's a whole new level of dedication to hockey in weddings, thanks to this couple of New Englanders. They had a full-on Hartford Whalers wedding. I love it. I'm in awe.