Chicago Blackhawks fired assistant coach Mike Kitchen on Monday. The decision reportedly sit well with coach Joel Quenneville.
In Hawks prospect news, Alex DeBrincat scored a goal for the Erie Otters in a 6-3 loss to Owen Sound in Game 3 of the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference Final on Monday. Owen Sound has taken a 2-1 series lead after dropping the series opener. Game 4 is Wednesday at Owen Sound.
Matthew Highmore and Nathan Noel (Saint John) will play Game 3 of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s semifinals Tuesday at Chicoutimi in Game 2. The series is tied 1-1.
HAWKS
**Bowman is right to exert his power over Hawks’ hockey operations (SCH)
**Quenneville ‘upset and surprised’ by Hawks’ firing of Kitchen (SCH)
**Hawks fire assistant coach Mike Kitchen (SCH)
**Stanley Cup window remains open for Hawks (The Athletic)
**Hawks team awards for 2016-17 season (SCH)
**Anisimov will not play for Russia at Worlds (SCH)
**What’s on the Hawks’ salary cap books for 2017-18? (SCH)
**Seabrook undaunted: ‘I’ve got a lot of hockey left in me’ (Chicago Sun Times)
**Bowman talks tough, but how will he act? (The Athletic)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**Round 2 schedule: Blues vs. Preds (On The Forecheck)
**Armstrong takes a look at Blues’ turnaround (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
**Ortiz: Hutton’s insight on Preds may help (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
**Fletcher should not pay the price for Wild’s first-round exit (Hockey Wilderness)
**Stars season grades: Dan Hamhuis (Defending Big D)
**Stars season grades: Brett Ritchie (Defending Big D)
NHL
**Stanley Cup playoff schedule, matchups (SBN)
**Anderson, Cogliano, Ryan named 2017 Masterton nominees (SBN)
**Penguins ‘hopeful’ for Hagelin (Pensburgh)
**Round 2 schedule: Capitals vs. Penguins (Japers’ Rink)
**Round 2 schedule: Senators vs. Rangers (Silver Seven)
**Sharks’ Thornton played with torn ACL, MCL (Fear The Fin)
**DeBoer doesn’t get a pass for the Sharks first-round loss (Fear The Fin)
**Cassidy ‘absolutely’ wants to return as Bruins’ head coach (CBS Boston)
**Isles bring back Seidenberg — one year, $1.25 million (Lighthouse Hockey)
HOCKEY WORLD
**Pending free agents Radulov, Zaitsev won’t play for Russia at Worlds (PHT)
**Longtime assistant Pearson named new Michigan coach (Maize N Brew)
**Niagara hires USHL Dubuque’s Jason Lammers (SBNCH)
**OHL Playoffs: Steelheads take 3-0 series lead with 2OT win over Petes (Sportsnet)