Morning Bag Skate: Blackhawks lose first game to Sabres in 8 years

Long live the streak. After 12 games during the span of eight years, the Chicago Blackhawks have finally lost a game to the Buffalo Sabres, Patrick Kane’s hometown team. Chicago fought back into the game in the second period but were overwhelmed in the third period when the Sabres had a three-goal outburst en route to a 5-3 win Saturday afternoon at KeyBank Arena.

Chicago will play host to the Blues at 6:30 p.m. today on NBCSN, kicking off the first contest of a three-game homestand.

BLACKHAWKS

**RECAP: Blackhawks fall 5-3, lose first game to Sabres since 2010 (SCH)

**Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews made history Saturday as a duo (Committed Indians)

**Ranking the Blackhawks’ top 25 prospects (The Athletic)

**The pros and cons of reuniting Kane and Toews on the top line (NBC Sports Chicago)

**Rivalry renewed: Steady diet of Blues-Blackhawks on tap (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

**Column: It’s stunning to see how fast the Blackhawks have fallen (The Buffalo News)

CENTRAL DIVISION

**Previewing tonight’s marquee Stars-Jets matchup (NHL.com)

**RECAP: Blues triumph over Rangers in OT, come closer to wild-card slot (NHL.com)

**Tarasenko leaves game in first period with upper body injury (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

**Column: Believing in the Blues is hard work (St. Louis Game Time)

**RECAP: Devan Dubnyk leads Wild to 3-1 victory over Coyotes (Hockey Wilderness)

**Who has been the Stars’ MVP? (Defending Big D)

**Why Hitchcock says Stars’ challenges in the playoff race are ‘fun’ (DMN)

**How the Western Conference will be won (Pred Lines)

**Jets’ defenseman Kulikov out at least 8 weeks with back injury (Arctic Ice Hockey)

**Avalanche need home win against Red Wings (Mile High Sticking)

NHL

**RECAP: Carolina falters again in third period, loses to surging Flyers (Canes Country)

**The statistics the Hurricanes have been producing tell a sad story (The Hockey Writers)

**Hurricanes, owner Tom Dundon suspend search for new GM (PHT)

**RECAP: Leafs dominate Canadiens in 4-0 win that extends home winning streak to 12 (PPP)

**Canadiens honor Tomas Plekanec by wearing turtlenecks (Puck Daddy)

**Toronto winger James van Riemsdyk is well suited to get paid (The Hockey News)

**RECAP: Oilers win ninth straight game against Panthers in 4-2 fashion (Edmonton Journal)

**RECAP: Devils pad wild-card lead with win over Kings (AATJ)

**Which trade deadline acquisition has made the biggest impact so far? (PHT)

**Top ten candidates for the Hart Trophy (The Hockey News)

HOCKEY WORLD

**Boston College’s Daryl Watts becomes first freshman to win Patty Kazmaier Award (BC Interruption)

**RECAP: Notre Dame works OT for first Big 10 tournament title (ND Insider)

**RECAP: Denver’s defense stifles St. Cloud State to win Frozen Faceoff (SBNCH)

**RECAP: Air Force tops Robert Morris to win ACH title (The Gazette)

**North Dakota wins NCHC consolation game (SBNCH)

**With win of ECAC title, Princeton was built for this (College Hockey News)

**OHL Roundup: Ben Jones leads IceDogs in win over Steelheads (Sportsnet)

**QMJHL Roundup: Balmas’ hat trick leads Titan in win over Mooseheads (Sportsnet)

** WHL Roundup: Burzan leads Wheat Kings in shootout win over Warriors (Sportsnet)

**What’s next for the Russian women's Olympics team? (The Ice Garden)