Morning Bag Skate: Slow start dooms Blackhawks at Blues

The Chicago Blackhawks fell 5-2 to the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night at Scottrade Center in St. Louis. The Hawks play the second half of a back-to-back Thursday when they host the Edmonton Oilers at United Center.

HAWKS

**RECAP: Hawks can’t find rhythm in loss to Blues (SCH)

**3 positives, 3 negatives from Hawks’ first 6 games (SCH)

**Familiar struggles, familiar solutions for Hawks’ power play (Chicago Sun Times)

**City’s pro sports teams slam Emanuel’s tax hike for large concerts (Chicago Sun Times)

**Is Murphy getting the Trevor Daley treatment from Quenneville? (SCH)

**Prospect Artur Kayumov breaks his collarbone, per report (SCH)

**Blackhawks week ahead: Chicago visits St. Louis (SCH)

CENTRAL DIVISION

**Hochman: Tarasenko raised play to a 'different level' against Hawks (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

**Huge disparity between Jets' top 6, bottom 6 forwards is holding team back (The Athletic)

NHL

**31 Thoughts: Tensions running high for slow starters (Sportsnet)

**RECAP: Maple Leafs strike quickly to defeat Red Wings (Pension Plan Puppets)

**RECAP: Kempe gets hat trick, Kings beat Canadiens (NHL.com)

**Spooner out 4-6 weeks with right groin adductor tear (Stanley Cup of Chowder)

**Canadiens' Schlemko out 3-4 weeks following hand surgery (Habs Eyes On The Prize)

HOCKEY WORLD

**Russia unsurprisingly leads 1st 2018 Olympic gold medal odds (SBN)

**QMJHL Roundup: Screaming Eagles beat Sagueneens in overtime (Sportsnet)

**OHL Roundup: David Levin leads Wolves past Greyhounds (Sportsnet)

**Doug Gilmour open to NHL gig under right circumstances (Sportsnet)

**Haley Skarupa signs with Boston Pride (The Ice Garden)

**Women’s Hockey 101: Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (The Ice Garden)