Morning Bag Skate: Blackhawks host Wild in first Central Division game of season

The Chicago Blackhawks host the Minnesota Wild in its first Central Division matchup of the season Thursday at the United Center.

Chicago (3-0-1) is coming off a 3-1 win Tuesday at Montreal, while Minnesota (0-1-1) haven’t played since last Saturday — a 5-4 shootout loss at Carolina.

HAWKS

**Schmaltz’s importance highlighted by his absence (Chicago Sun Times)

**Watch: DeBrincat scores his 1st NHL goal (SCH)

**Hawks struggling to adapt to crackdown on faceoffs, slashes (Chicago Sun Times)

**Hedge Report: Farewell, it's been a wild, fun ride covering Hawks (The Athletic)

CENTRAL DIVISION

**RECAP: Kerfoot gets first NHL goal, Avs win home opener (NHL.com)

**Yakupov glad to be in Colorado with Avalanche (Denver Post)

**Radulov impact already felt in Dallas as Stars poised to break out (The Athletic)

**Top 50 Blues players of all time (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

NHL

**New Rockets owner would consider NHL team if money was right (Houston Chronicle)

**RECAP: Devils top Maple Leafs to remain undefeated (All About The Jersey)

**RECAP: Penguins score 3 power-play goals to edge Capitals (Pensburgh)

**RECAP: Ducks hang on to defeat Islanders (Anaheim Calling)

**RECAP: Monahan’s OT goal puts Flames over Kings (Matchsticks and Gasoline)

**Karlsson to stay in Ottawa, may return to Sens lineup next week (Ottawa Citizen)

HOCKEY WORLD

**Team USA hockey women train, bond during long Olympic centralization (The Athletic)

**Colton emerging as leader for Vermont (SBNCH)

**OHL Roundup: Mac Hollowell leads Greyhounds to win over Spirit (Sportsnet)

**WHL Roundup: Coghlan scores in OT, Americans hand Royals first loss (Sportsnet)