The Blackhawks and IceHogs are off until Friday, when Chicago visits Buffalo and Rockford hosts the Wolves.
Former Blackhawks forward Brandon Bollig turns 32 on Thursday. The 2013 Stanley Cup-winner and Blackhawks mascot, Tommy Hawk, will be special guest for the Chicago Steel’s fourth annual Blackhawks Night on Saturday at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva.
Elsewhere in Chicago sports, the Bulls snapped their four-game losing streak with a 105-89 win over the Heat on Wednesday night in Chicago. The Fire played to a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid B in preseason action in Madrid.
BLACKHAWKS
Storystream: SCH’s ‘State of the Franchise’ series (SCH)
Checking the NHL potential of IceHogs players (SCH)
There’s much to like about Entwistle’s game (SCH)
Star players back Colliton as he steadies Blackhawks (Chicago Sun-Times)
How does DeBrincat customize his stick? The same way he always has (The Athletic)
CENTRAL DIVISION
Wild trade Murphy to Devils for Kapla (Hockey Wilderness)
‘Mentally, it’s hard’: Eric Staal opens up about his uncertain future in Minnesota (The Athletic)
Fly like an Eagle? Why the Avalanche’s new AHL affiliate is doing that and more (The Athletic)
The biggest questions for the Predators: From Austin Watson to the trade deadline (The Athletic)
RECAP: Bishop makes 30 saves, Stars shut out Sabres (NHL)
NHL
The Tank Index: Which struggling teams are in best position to get a lot worse down the stretch? (The Athletic)
Pierre McGuire mansplains hockey to Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield (SCH)
RECAP: Murray makes 33 saves, Penguins defeat Lightning (NHL)
One-on-one with McPhee: Golden Knights GM talks shop during bye week (Knights On Ice)
HOCKEY WORLD
OHL: Paquette scores twice as Petes double up Bulldogs (Sportsnet)
AHL vs. WHL: Winnipeg Ice ownership expects ‘friendly competition with the Moose (Winnipeg Free Press)