Bruins will bring back Bruce Cassidy as coach

BOSTON (AP) The Boston Bruins are bringing Bruce Cassidy back next season, dropping the interim tag from his title as a reward for leading the team back to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. Cassidy replaced Claude Julien, the winningest coach in the history of the Original Six franchise, on Feb. 8 and led the team to an 18-8-1 record to finish out the season and earn a postseason berth. Julien led the Bruins to the NHL championship in 2011 and back to the Stanley Cup finals in 2013.