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Bruins and Canadiens all knotted up 2 games apiece

By WTOP Staff

BOSTON (AP) — Matt Fraser was eating a burrito in Providence, Rhode Island, when he got the word that he was being promoted from the minor leagues to join the Boston Bruins for their playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens.

Less than 48 hours later, in his first career NHL playoff game, he scored in overtime to give the Bruins a 1-0 victory and tie the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals at two games apiece.

“It is pretty special for him,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said after practice Friday. “First playoff game, score a goal like that — and a big one, to say the least.”

A 23-year-old forward from Red Deer, Alberta, Fraser played 13 regular-season games in two seasons with the Dallas Stars before coming to Boston in the Tyler Seguin trade. Fraser played 14 games for the Bruins this season, scoring twice, but he was averaging a point per game for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League and preparing for their next series when he got the call to get to Montreal.

“What I was told is that he has been playing well in the playoffs for Providence and this was an opportunity for him to come in and help us out,” Julien said. “And that’s what he did.”

Fraser’s sudden promotion and success has made him an instant legend in Boston, especially after describing after the game what he was eating — a double-chicken burrito with guacamole and no cheese — when he got the call-up. He had just enough time for a frozen yogurt before heading to Montreal.

The Boston Herald ran a headline, “New kid’s on the guac.”

Although he said he wasn’t superstitious, he joked on Friday that he might “wander over to Pinkberry” before Game 5.

“He has come in here and, for a guy who maybe said he was nervous for the game, he certainly didn’t look like it,” Julien said. “He seemed poised out there and I said he made some good strong plays throughout the whole game.”

Fraser played 21 shifts totaling 14:44, and he was in the right place in overtime when a loose puck skittered around in the crease next to Canadiens goalie Carey Price. Fraser got his stick on it and swept it into the net just before a defenseman could clear it away.

“It’s something I dreamed about many times on the outdoor rinks growing up,” Fraser said. “It’s every kid’s dream to score in overtime. … Words can’t even describe that feeling.”

The victory helped Boston avoid a 3-1 hole in the series and restored the home-ice advantage the Bruins gave up with their Game 1 loss.

Montreal coach Michel Therrien said Friday that his top talent hasn’t been doing enough so far this series. Although he did not mention names, first-line forwards Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais have only one assist each in the first four games and just three points apiece in the playoffs so far.

“I want our best players to be able to perform and to contribute to the success of the team offensively,” Therrien said. “Certain players that are having some trouble contributing offensively. … These types of players need to adjust to the intensity of the playoffs.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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