Morning Bag Skate: Blackhawks visit St. Louis for Game 1

The Chicago Blackhawks open the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Scottrade Center.

HAWKS

**Hawks vs. Blues first round schedule (SCH)

**Anisimov, Hossa, Shaw will play Game 1 vs. Blues (SCH)

**Despite concerns, there's reason to believe in Hawks (SCH)

**Kruger helps Hawks penalty kill get hot at the right time (SCH)

**Motte to play for Team USA at Worlds (SCH)

**Hawks among 'front-runners' to sign NCAA free agent Drake Caggiula (SCH)

**SCH Staff predictions (SCH)

**SCH Staff award picks (SCH)

CENTRAL DIVISION

**Backes returns; Blues at full strength (STL Post-Dispatch)

**Wild preparing as if Parise won't play anytime soon (Star Tribune)

**Seguin continues to progress at Stars practice (DBD)

NHL

**Senators fire coach Dave Cameron (Silver Seven)

**Sens owner Melnyk speaks about hiring new coach (Silver Seven)

**Sharks' Jones will start Game 1 vs. Kings (FTF)

**Islanders' Halak out for first-round series vs. Panthers (theScore)

**Canucks' Henrik Sedin played through broken finger (theScore)

**Pending free agent Cam Ward wants to stay with Hurricanes (theScore)

HOCKEY WORLD

**NHL Central Scouting rankings (SBNCH)

**2016 Frozen Four TV ratings (SBNCH)