My predictions were posted today at ESPNBoston.com. Sorry to say loyal readers, I couldn’t bring myself to pick the Boston Bruins to do better than finish second in the Eastern Conference and reach the conference finals.

The Washington Capitals are the team I see winning the East, although I pick Philadelphia to earn the No. 1 seed. I envision the Caps either getting stellar goaltending from youngster Semyon Varlamov or making a trade for a true top-notch puck-stopper before embarking on their run to the Final. There I predict they’ll face Anaheim and prevail.

Bourque

Well, the Washington Capitals land at TD Garden for tomorrow night’s season-opener with the Boston Bruins. Superstars Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Mike Green should be in the house. But one player the  Bruins won’t be facing is forward Chris Bourque, the son of Hall-of-Famer Ray Bourque. (more…)

WILMINGTON, Mass. — The Boston Bruins are practicing at Ristuccia Arena a little more than 24 hours before their regular season opener against Washington at TD Garden.

The lines are the same as they’ve been all week. (more…)

Kobasew

While you could make a case that three of the Boston Bruins’ four offensive lines, as they’ve been constituted at this week’s practices,  have at least one question mark, there are no doubts about the line of Mark Recchi, Patrice Bergeron and Chuck  Kobasew. (more…)

BOSTON — After they went through a full practice today at TD Garden, center David Krejci and wingers Marco Sturm and Steve Begin were all declared day-to-day and are probable to face the Washington Capitals in the regular season opener Thursday night on Causeway Street.

For complete coverage, check out my blog at ESPNBoston.com.

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins today assigned center Zach Hamill and forward Brad Marchand to Providence (AHL), which reduces their roster number to 22 with the regular season three days from starting.

Today all 22 of those guys are practicing at TD Garden. Center David Krejci, who it would seem is ready for game action despite sitting out the preseason, is among the group.

More later.

After Columubus’ Mike Blunden took some liberties with Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask in the third period last night, Chuck Kobasew stood up for the rookie netminder.

Separately, Shawn Thornton then decided to send a message to Blue Jackets tough guy Jared Boll. Here’s an up-close-and-personal look at the bout that earned Thornton a game misconduct, courtesy of Sharon Bradley Photography: (more…)

Rask

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins dropped their preseason finale tonight, 4-2, at TD Garden to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

For the recap click here.

Tuukka Rask made 31 saves in the defeat. Before the game, the Bruins waived Dany Sabourin, so Rask has won the No. 2 goaltender’s job. For more on Rask, check out my blog at ESPNBoston.com. (more…)

Sweeney

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins now have two assistant general managers under GM Peter Chiarelli, as Don Sweeney — who was formerly the Director of Player Development and Hockey Operations — was promoted to the assistant GM title today.

Jim Benning maintains his title as an assistant GM. (more…)

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins lineup that takes on the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight in the preseason finale at TD Garden will definitely look like the one that will skate against Washington Thursday in the season opener.

The scratches will be Steve Begin, Marco Sturm and David Krejci up front, and Johnny Boychuk, who projects as the seventh D, on the back end.

More after the game.

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins plan to ice a lineup for their preseason final tonight at TD Garden that closely resembles what they’ll look like when they host Washington in the regular season opener Thursday night.

Center David Krejci, who is trying to make a speedy return from hip surgery, will be a game-time decision, along with winger Marco Sturm (groin) and forward Steve Begin (lower body). (more…)

The Boston Bruins won their fifth game of the preseason — all by scores of 2-1 — tonight in Ottawa behind goals by Brad Marchand and Drew Fata.

Boston’s next-to-last game of its preseason schedule cleared up a lot of things, and here are a few thoughts before I hit the hay: (more…)

As the preseason winds down and the Boston Bruins get ready to skate in their next-to-last exhibition game against Ottawa, Senators general manager Bryan Murray is struggling to find takers from around the league to pawn off some of his spare players. (more…)

The Carolina Hurricanes will be at TD Garden to face the Boston Bruins in just eight days. With Aaron Ward now skating for the ‘Canes as a teammate of Scott Walker, I want to know:

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While it’s still just preseason and a lot of the probable NHLers won’t be in the Montreal lineup, the Canadiens team the Boston Bruins will face tonight at Bell Centre will still be attempting to change its style of play from the last couple years. (more…)