Morning Bag Skate: Blackhawks host Predators in playoff rematch
Our daily look at Blackhawks news and the happenings around the hockey world.
The Chicago Blackhawks host the Nashville Predators on Saturday at the United Center in the first meeting since between the two teams since last spring’s first round playoff match
Chicago (3-1-1) is coming off its first regulation loss — a 5-2 defeat against Minnesota on Thursday, while Nashville (2-2-0) was victorious in a 4-1 game Thursday against Dallas at home.
HAWKS
**Schmaltz’s impending return should make Hawks dangerous again (Chicago Tribune)
**Panik finally tapping into his ocean of talent (Chicago Sun Times)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**RECAP: Avs use power play to defeat Ducks (Mile High Hockey)
**Girard could be Predators’ next great defenseman (SBN)
**Blais called up, Thompson sent down (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
**Dunn has a lot to learn but catches on quickly (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
**Kunin to make NHL debut, plus Wild injury updates (The Athletic)
**What Luke Kunin brings to Wild (Hockey Wilderness)
NHL
**New Rockets owner would consider NHL team if money was right (Houston Chronicle)
**RECAP: Backstrom, Oshie help Capitals hand Devils their 1st loss (Japers’ Rink)
**RECAP: Panarin scores 1st goal with Blue Jackets in win over Rangers (Jackets Cannon)
**RECAP: Anderson, Sens shut out Flames (Silver Seven)
**RECAP: Red Wings hand Vegas its 1st loss (Winging It In Motown)
**Vegas reveals Chance as team’s mascot (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
**Golden Knights mascot works about as well as team’s power play (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
HOCKEY WORLD
**RECAP: No. 1 Denver, No. 4 Notre Dame play to tie (Mile High Hockey)
**RECAP: No. 11 Penn State upends No. 7 Minnesota (Black Shoes Diaries)
**RECAP: All four forward lines score goals in No. 10 Wisconsin’s win over Boston College (Wisconsin State Journal)
**RECAP: Bemidji State dominates third period to beat No. 5 Minnesota-Duluth (Duluth News Tribune)
**OHL Roundup: Timleck, Ang lift Frontenacs over Petes in shootout (Sportsnet)
**QMJHL Roundup: Ouellet, Kozlov star in shootout as Foreurs top Huskies (Sportsnet)
**WHL Roundup: Logan Flodell earns shutout as Broncos top Giants (Sportsnet)
