Stanley Cups: 6

2011-'12 record: 49-29-1-3, 102 points (1st in Northeast, 2nd in East)

2011-'12 playoffs: Lost to Washington Capitals 4-3.

Coach: Claude Julien (347-218-92, 11th NHL year, 3rd team)

Top returning scorer: C Tyler Seguin (29 goals, 38 assists, 67 points)

Top returning goalie: Tuukka Rask (11-8-3, 2.05, .929)

Key additions: LW Chris Bourque; C Christian Hanson; D Garnet Exelby; D Aaron Johnson.

Key subtractions: C Zach Hamill; G Tim Thomas; RW Brian Rolston; LW Benoit Pouliot; D Joe Corvo; D Mike Mottau.

Goaltending: With two-time Vezina winner Thomas taking a sabbatical from the game, Rask is now the club’s go-to guy. He posted a 1.97 goals-against average and .931 save percentage while carrying the load for an ailing Thomas in 2009-10.

Player to watch: D Dougie Hamilton. Boston’s top pick in the 2011 entry draft started season with Niagara (OHL), but will stick with big club. At 6-5, 199 pounds, he’s a monster blue-liner comparable to Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. His parents Doug (rowing) and Lynn (basketball) were both 1984 Canadian Olympians.

Icing: Bruins suspended Thomas, but still face a $5 million cap hit this season for his salary . . . Bruins D Andre Ference, a devout environmentalist, vowed to plant 50 trees for every goal Seguin scores this season . . . Bourque is the son of Bruins legend Ray Bourque . . . Hanson is the son of Dave Hanson, one of the Hanson brothers from the hockey cult film Slap Shot.

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Fred Chartrand / AP

Pens writing off Sens

PHT: The Penguins pushed the Senators to the brink of elimination on Wednesday night after six unanswered goals yielded a 7-3 Game 4 win.

NBC Sports

Highlights: Pens hang seven on Sens

    The Senators held a lead twice in the first period, but Pittsburgh's offensive fire power proved to be too much to handle. James Neal and Jarome Iginla each score two as the Penguins cruise to an impressive 7-3 victory in Game 4.

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