Chicago Blackhawks forwards Artemi Panarin and Nick Schmaltz clash at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday for the top spot in Group A at the World Championship.
A win for Schmaltz and Team USA over Russia puts them into the quarterfinal game Thursday in Cologne against the fourth-place finisher from Group B. The U.S. can finish no lower than third in its group.
HAWKS
**Why the Hawks championship window runs through 2019 (SCH)
**Panarin gets back into groove at Worlds (Chicago Sun Times)
**Darling was Stars first choice, per report (SCH)
**Bowman denies firing Kitchen to send Quenneville a message (SCH)
**DeBrincat helps Erie win OHL championship (SCH)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**Rinne has strong rebound game (On The Forecheck)
**Cellblock 303 is loudest, rowdiest Preds fans (The Tennessean)
**Preds anthem singer unhappy about being upstaged by country acts (The Tennessean)
**Should Stars consider Ilya Kovalchuk? (Defending Big D)
**Stars will have plenty of cap space for roster upgrades (Defending Big D)
**Stars GM defends Bishop contract, checks goalie purge options (Puck Daddy)
**Bishop: Vegas ‘thinking younger’ for goalie search (Sportsnet)
**What will Jets do in goal? (Winnipeg Sun)
NHL
**Pyeongchang organizers believe NHL still considering Olympics (PHT)
**NHL’s top 17 UFAs of 2017: Latest rumors, reports (Sportsnet)
**RECAP: Kessel pushes Penguins past Sens to tie series (Pensburgh)
**Penguins’ Rust injured on high hit from Sens’ Phaneuf (SBN)
**Panthers to interview Caps assistant Reirden for head coaching job (PHT)
**Lightning sign star prospect Taylor Raddysh (Raw Charge)
**Russell puts Oilers at the top of his options (Edmonton Journal)
**Flames report card: Michael Frolik (Matchsticks and Gasoline)
**Flames report card: Troy Brouwer (Matchsticks and Gasoline)
**Should the Flames look at Jordan Eberle? (Matchsticks and Gasoline)
HOCKEY WORLD
**French star Da Costa drawing NHL interest (TSN)
**Isles prospect Barzal named MVP of WHL playoffs (Lighthouse Hockey)
**WHL Everett hires USHL Bloomington’s Williams (Everett Silvertips)
**USHL Bloomington name Watt head coach, Jewell as GM (The Pantagraph)
**Watch: Italy’s awful own goal at Worlds (PHT)