These road games on the second night of a back-to-back are becoming troublesome to the Celtics, who lost to the Charlotte Bobcats 94-89 last night down in North Carolina.

On the plus side, are you jacked and pumped for Truck Day? I thought so.

Celtics lack finish in back-to-backs - Chris Forsberg has the Celtics dropping to 2-7 on the road in the second game of back-to-backs. Mark Murphy has more on the Celtics low energy in these games.

History in the making: From Chris Ford to Ray Allen - Paul Flannery talks to Allen’s first NBA coach.

Allen’s Quest For Perfection Never Ends - Jeff Jacobs talks to Allen’s college coach, Jim Calhoun and several other connections from his UConn days.

The thinking is ‘forward’ - Julian Benbow’s notebook looks at the possibility that the Celtics might consider a roster move. The Herald notebook from Mark Murphy has Doc Rivers defending Kevin Garnett. A. Sherrod Blakely reports that Kendrick Perkins has rejected a contract offer from the Celtics.

Marc Savard has Bruins’ backing - Joe McDonald has the Bruins supportive of their teammate, who will miss the remainder of the season. More on Savard from: Mick Colageo | DJ Bean | Fluto Shinzawa | Danny Picard

Now, Chiarelli should reach for a Star - Kevin Paul Dupont says that the Bruins GM should make a play for Brad Richards.

Questions facing the Red Sox: Starting 9 - Michael Silverman has nine concerns about the Red Sox as spring training approaches.

Papelbon: Others can do the thinking - Gordon Edes has the Sox closer saying the the team doesn’t pay him to think. Thank god for that.

As season approaches, J.D. Drew is bracing for the unknown - Rob Bradford checks in with the outfielder, who says his hamstrings are already sore.

Loss packed with meaning - Greg A Bedard has the Packers pointing to their loss to the Patriots as the turning point of their season. This is the second year in a row that a Super Bowl champ has pointed to a game with the Patriots as the turning point of their season.

Dan Shaughnessy champions Andrew Ferrence’s critical comments of his teammate, and turns them into an excuse to bash Pedro Martinez. At least he’s consistent.

Even though things worked out in the best possible way for Patriots fans last night – the Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl, keeping Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers from their third Super Bowl since the Patriots last won one, it still wasn’t a fun night, knowing that New England had beaten both of these teams in the regular season.

It was a better afternoon at the Garden, where the Celtics dispatched Eastern Conference rival Orlando 91-80. Rajon Rondo led the way for the Celtics with 26 points.

Injuries not too much to overcome - Greg A Bedard has the Packers getting it done despite a season full of injuries.

Blow-by-blow from the bleachers - Jonathan Comey files a report from his experience at the Super Bowl in the stands.

Ten Things We Learned Last Night: Aaron Rodgers revealed as his own man - Chris Price has a few items to take away from the Super Bowl.

Unanimous MVP small solace for Tom Brady - Ian Rapoport has the Patriots QB still upset over the loss to the Jets.

Rondo Returns To Attacking Ways - Chris Forsberg has Doc Rivers pleased with Rondo’s agressiveness yesterday. More on Rondo’s performance:  Steve Bulpett | Frank Dell’Apa | Jessica Camerato | Paul Flannery

Celtics able to get under Magic’s skin  – Peter May has Quentin Richardson and the Magic whining about the Celtics.

Their focus was clearly at high level - Gary Washburn has the Celtics exposing the Magic as not-quite-ready for prime time.

Marquis Daniels out 1-2 months - Mark Murphy’s notebook has Daniels suffering a bruised spinal cord in a scary moment yesterday. The Globe notebook from Julian Benbow has more on the injury.

Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference not fazed by criticism - Mike Loftus has the Bruins defenseman standing by his comments abotu teammate Daniel Paille. Joe Haggerty says that Ference was right to say what he did.

Bruins to shut down Savard for remainder of season - Joe Haggerty has the news that the Bruins center will miss the remainder of the season.

With the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror, and Spring Training coming up fast, it’s time for the Beanpot, which again will be broadcast on NESN.

The first game tonight pits Harvard against Northeastern at 5:00 PM followed by Boston University battling Boston College at 8:00 PM from the TD Garden. NESN’s coverage of the Beanpot championship game on Monday, February 14th will begin with Prelude to A Championship, a live, half-hour pre-game show starting at 7:30 PM.

 Don Orsillo and Andy Brickley will call all three games with Kathryn Tappen and Bob Beers teaming up to host Prelude to a Championship and intermission coverage from NESN’s Garden studio.  Naoko Funayama will serve as the rink-side reporter contributing pre-game, intermission and post-game interviews.

The Bruins jumped on the Dallas Stars right from the opening faceoff, with Gregory “Soupy” Campbell decking old his old nemesis Steve Ott and then two other fights starting after that. In the first four seconds of the game, there were three fights.

They did eventually end up playing hockey after that beginning to the night, and the Bruins posted a 6-3 win over the Pacific Division-leading stars.

Bang-up job done by Bruins over Stars - Fluto Shinzawa chronicles the fights and the hockey game that followed them. DJ Bean has the Bruins starting their toughest stretch of the season strongly.

Bruins stand up during fight night at the Garden - Joe Haggerty says that the Bruins play their best hockey when someone takes a poke at them. Stephen Harris adds that this Bruins team seems to create momentum off of fights.

Bruins, Stars stir up old memories - Mick Colageo has this one stirring up memories of a Bruins/Stars game from 30 years ago.

Bergeron back in starring role - Michael Vega has Patrice Bergeron continuing his hot play with a pair of goals in the first period.

Daniel Paille likely heading to Rule 48 suspension - Steve Conroy’s notebook has one Bruins likely to hear from the league office today. The Globe notebook by Fluto Shinzawa has more on the Paille hit. The CSNNE notes from Joe Haggerty have Marc Savard set to undergo tests in Boston today.

Celtics connect four stars - Mark Murphy has the Celtics “Big Four” being named All-Star reserves, and Doc Rivers’ plan to play them all together in the game. Murphy’s  notebook has Delonte West getting closer to a return.

The Rondo Paradox - Interesting column on RealGM.

Developing opportunity for Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia - Alex Speier has a look at the Red Sox work with the young catcher in the offseason as they prepare him to be the starter in 2011.

With David Ortiz, much left to be desired - Scott Lauber says that the DH’s struggles against lefties might be a concern for Terry Francona.

The two sides of the Sox - Jim Donaldson looks at the Red Sox as both half-empty and half-full.

10 Questions — No. 9: How key is Dice-K? - Gordon Edes looks at the importance of Daisuke Matsuzaka as the fifth starter.

Zoned in on each other - Greg A Bedard with a worthy feature on the matchup between defensive minds – and former roommates – Dom Capers and Dick LeBeau.

Goodell has only himself to blame for feeling ‘deceived’ - Kirk Minihane says that if the Commissioner really felt so deceived, he should’ve done something before now.

Fox has its team ready for climactic Sunday - If you didn’t hate Joe Buck with the intensity of 10,000 white-hot burning suns prior to now, after reading Chad Finn’s media colum today you surely will.

Fox crew will miss Super lure of Pats - Bill Doyle has more from Buck and Troy Aikman.

Guess who:

Logan Mankins is my favorite Patriot. He’s the first guy to stand up to the Krafts since Mike Vrabel.

Need more?

Goodell to SI’s Peter King on Belichick’s Spygate non-response: “He went out and stonewalled the press. I feel like I was deceived.’’ Welcome to our world, Roger.

Got it now? (The answer is in the comments section – if you really can’t figure it out.)

Even when the Patriots are not playing in the Super Bowl, the nation (well, the media at least) is still obsessed with them. Yesterday was a double-dose of Patriots with the whole country talking about Peter King’s Sports Illustrated fawning and ingratiating column on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. (The Man Of The Hour)

Of the ten page column, in which there are plenty of topics worthy of further discussion, focus has fallen on two paragraphs on page eight:

Goodell didn’t make friends in New England in 2007 when he fined Patriots coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and the team $250,000 and docked the Pats a first-round draft pick for secretly videotaping an opposing team’s coaching signals. Owner Robert Kraft thought the penalty too severe. Goodell told Kraft that, as part of the disciplinary action, Belichick would have to make a verbal apology in front of the press that week. Instead the coach issued a printed statement and refused to answer any questions on the topic. “I was given assurances that [Belichick] would tell his side of the story,” Goodell says. “He went out and stonewalled the press. I feel like I was deceived.”

Belichick responds, “I did not make any assurances about thoroughly discussing the subject publicly. I said I would address it following the league’s review. I then did that in a way I thought was appropriate. I don’t think that was deceptive.”

This relaunched discussion of the Spygate scandal, especially on local sports radio stations. Then just a few hours later, word came out that Bill Belichick wins coach of year for the 2010 season.

As for the other links from this morning, they’re pretty thin outside of the usual Super Bowl-focused stuff. Here’s six:

Inside the Patriots: In Bill, Patriot Nation can still trust - Jonathan Comey says that the coach is still at the top of his game.

Should sportswriters be allowed to gamble on sports? - Sean Kerrigan in the Phoenix talks to Globe sports editor Joe Sullivan among other on the topic.

Celtics had a productive trip, with just one stumble - Julian Benbow has the Celtics returning home after a 3-1 West coast swing.

Lavarnway welcome, along with 19 others - Peter Abraham’s Red Sox notebook looks at spring training invitations handed out by the Red Sox.

10 Questions — No. 8: Sox closer in Sept? - Gordon Edes examines whether Jonathan Papelbon will still be the Red Sox closer at the end of 2011.

Nathan Horton heard from - Rich Thompson has the Bruins winger finally getting back in the scoring sheet.