Morning Bag Skate: Crawford readying for return

There will be some fair questions to ask about the Chicago Blackhawks' power play after a 1-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. However, I'd venture that most of them could be answered with things related to sample size and shooting percentage regression. As long as we're routinely seeing the team shoot significantly more than opponents, I won't get worried yet. Anyways, here's the news for Wednesday morning:

**Corey Crawford is getting ready to return after some time off due to nagging injuries (CSN Chicago)

**Marian Hossa on chasing his 1,000th point (Chicago Tribune)

**Nikita Kucherov recorded his first career hat trick against the Coyotes on Tuesday. Mike Smith continues to struggle in goal for Arizona. (Pro Hockey Talk)

**Catch up on a busy Tuesday night in the NHL with SBN's storystream (SB Nation)

**Our thoughts go to the family of Gordie Howe, who is recovering from a "pretty bad stroke" suffered on Sunday (Detroit News)

**The Sabres had a really, really bad game against Toronto (SB Nation)

**The Red Wings have sent Stephen Weiss to the AHL for a conditioning assignment (Red Wings)

**Capitals coach Barry Trotz doesn't want his players worried about their Corsi numbers (Monumental Network)

**The AHL suspended Brad Mills for 20 games due to a violation of the league's performance enhancing substance policy. (AHL)

**How does the Islanders top combo of John Tavares and Kyle Okposo keeps opponents off balance? (SB Nation)

**Columbus will be without Sergei Bobrovsky for a week or two after he broke a finger in practice (Blue Jackets)

**The Flames placed Mason Raymond on IR with a shoulder injury (Calgary Sun)

**The Predators have placed Rich Clune on waivers with the hopes of sending him to the AHL (Sportsnet)

**This is not the way to put away the game against an empty net (Puck Daddy)

**John Moore will have an in-person hearing after his big hit on Erik Haula. (Puck Daddy)