AHL All-Star goalie Michael DiPietro has been reassigned by the Boston Bruins to their AHL affiliate team, the Providence Bruins.

Following a 4-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday evening, the Boston Bruins moved to 71 points on the season and separated themselves a little more from the outside-the-bubble pack in the Eastern Conference.

The Boston Bruins have exceeded expectations after starting a retool last year, but they're still clinging to the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

The Bruins looked like a team that hadn’t played in three weeks in the first period of their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. But turned things around after the first 20 minutes of play.

Jeremy Swayman was never going to pass up an opportunity to represent his country, no matter what had gone on for the past 10 months, no matter where his confidence was. He was grateful for the chance,

Philadelphia has played twice since the Olympic break, dropping a 3-1 decision against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday before posting a 3-2 overtime victory over the New York Rangers the following night. On Thursday, the Flyers fell behind 2-0 before rallying behind two goals from Matvei Michkov, including the game-winner in overtime.

Team USA won the gold medal on Sunday in Milan, Italy. They flew to Miami to avoid the blizzard in the northeast on Monday and then to Washington Tuesday, where they were honored at the White House and the State of the Union. The Bruins players arrived back in Boston early on Wednesday morning.

We are a week away from the NHL trade deadline and the Bruins are in a curious spot. They hold the second wild card spot but, even with their victory over the Columbus that created a six-point game between them and the Blue Jackets,

That doesn’t guarantee moves won’t be made before next Friday’s deadline, but it’s not hanging over the club like a dark cloud.

When it was revealed Andrew Peeke was a healthy scratch for the Bruins’ game against the Blue Jackets on Thursday, many quickly speculated it was precautionary with the trade deadline approaching.