After losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 in game 5 in their final lick at this playoff series, and therefore losing the series 4-1, the Boston Bruins faithful would like you all to know that you and the rest of the league, its teams, its fans, its management and its referees, are a bunch of no good black kettles. Yes, they are wearing their black Bruins jerseys, why do you ask?

In a season, if not playoffs, mired by bizarre reffing decisions and league policies on how the refs should call (or not call) certain infractions, it is the fact that they totally picked on the poor old innocent Bruins that were victimized the most by a bunch of biased referees who were clearly out to get them. The complaints are coming in at a lick now. That’s obviously why the clinching game had 3 power play chances for each team, and despite Brad Marchand or David Backes being people who exist on the same team complaining about the other team getting away with penalties unfairly.

Doesn’t make a lick of sense to me, and won’t make a lick of difference in the end.

Regardless, now the Lightning have sent the Bruins home to lick their wounds over the offseason, we can breathe a sigh of relief and start enjoying the remaining playoffs a lot more—unless you’re one of those that REALLY doesn’t want Winnipeg to win. Or Tom Wilson. I take it back these playoffs still suck. GO ANYONE BUT WASHINGTON OR WINNIPEG!)

Now Tampa Bay can rest and sit back, licking their chops at the idea of facing either the two time defending champs or... well let’s face it, it’s going to be the Penguins even if they’re down 3-2 in their series.

In not so good news for the Lightning franchise, but good news for the Leafs franchise, the Marlies won game 3 of their series vs Syracuse to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. The game itself was more dominating than having a 3-0 series is — they out shot Syracuse 30-19 and outscored them 7-1. They’ll look to wrap up the series with at a lick and a promise’s pace on Tuesday evening.

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ON TO THE LINKS!

Marlies Game 2 Recap: Marlies win second game against Crunch in double overtime | by Species

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2018 NHL Draft Profile: Rasmus Sandin | by Kevin

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IIHF World Championship: Weekend wrap up | by Katya

PLAYOFF HOCKEY

Aside from Boston failing at their last licks, the Vegas Golden Knights also had a chance to wrap up their series vs the Sharks. While I wait for those scores to come in, let’s enjoy one of the most amazing joke-costumes worn by a hockey fan in the history of the sport:

Clinch their place in the conference finals, Vegas did — with a convincing 3-0 win in San Jose’s building. They’ll now face the winner of the Jets-Preds series.

OTHER NEWS

The World Championships are going on with Team Canada taking on Team Korea today. Curtis McElhinney got the start and the shutout.

With Orlando out of ECHL playoffs, way is clear to announce Leafs’ affiliation in St. John’s | Hockey | Sports | The Telegram
A playoff series between two Florida minor league hockey teams concluded Sunday.

This normally wouldn’t generate a whole lot of interest in St. John’s, but because one of the teams was the Orlando Solar Bears, perhaps it

Happy Monday Everyone! Please share your various licking puns at the Bruins’ expense in the comments.

From The Branches