clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Our new website is live! Click here to visit the temporary new home of Second City Hockey!

Filed under:

Morning Bag Skate: Blackhawks open 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs against Predators

Our daily look at Blackhawks news and the happenings around the hockey world.

By Brandon M. Cain and lizmcneill
Nashville Predators v Chicago Blackhawks Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The Chicago Blackhawks open the playoffs against the Nashville Predators tonight. Artem Anisimov is set to return from injury, while Michal Rozsival is unavailable as a depth option after surgery to repair facial fractures suffered in the game against Anaheim.

In Hawks prospect news, Alex DeBrincat scored in a 3-1 victory over the London Knights. The Saint John Sea Dogs (Nathan Noel, Matthew Highmore) took a 3-0 series lead over the Val-d’Or Foreurs.

HAWKS

**Hawks-Predators first-round schedule (SCH)

**Blackhawks don’t have the NHL’s best-selling jersey this season (SCH)

**Tootoo on Hawks-Predators: ‘It finally feels great to be on the right side’ (SCH)

**NHL playoff predictions 2017: Confidence high in Blackhawks, Capitals (SCH)

**Six X-factors that may decide the Blackhawks-Predators series (Chicago Sun Times)

**Will a deeper defense let Keith play fewer playoff minutes? (SCH)

**A deeper look at Hawks’ power play in different situations (SCH)

**Who should be on Hawks’ fourth line in playoffs? (SCH)

CENTRAL DIVISION

**Blues-Wild first-round schedule (Hockey Wilderness)

**RECAP: STL v MIN - Jake Allen steals Game 1 (Hockey Wilderness)

**Report: Ken Hitchcock To Be Next Head Coach in Dallas (DBD)

NHL

**Stanley Cup playoff schedule, matchups (SBN)

**RECAP: NYR v MTL - Lundqvist earns shutout in Game 1 (Blueshirt Banter)

**RECAP: BOS v OTT - Sens miss opportunity (Silver Seven)

**RECAP: CBJ v PIT - Pens take Game 1 (Pensburgh)

**RECAP: SJ v EDM - Sharks take series opener in OT (Fear The Fin)

** Enjoy the brutally painful and emotional ride known as the Stanley Cup Playoffs (Pensburgh)

**Ranking NHL’s best bandwagon playoff teams (Down Goes Brown)

**Bruins's Colin Miller hurt in knee-to-knee collision, leaves in early 2nd period (SCOC)

HOCKEY WORLD

**OHL Playoffs: Raddysh hat trick leads Otters over Knights in Game 2 (Sportsnet)

**QMJHL Playoffs: Sea Dogs get past Foreurs to take 3-0 series lead (Sportsnet)

**Noora Räty re-signs with Nokia Pyry (The Ice Garden)

**NWHL announces plans for third season (The Ice Garden)