The Chicago Blackhawks return from the Christmas break to host the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday at United Center. The Hawks have won seven of their 12 games in December, and sit in third place in the Central Division at 44 points.
The United States national junior team earned its first preliminary-round victory against rival Canada at the World Junior Championship in 17 years with a 4-2 win Saturday at Helsinki Ice Hall in Finland.
Chicago Blackhawks prospect Radovan Bondra and Slovakia play Belarus at 8 a.m. Sunday, followed by Denmark against Switzerland at noon on Day 2 of the WJC.
HAWKS
**IceHogs fall 2-1 to Milwaukee in shootout (IceHogs)
**WJC: USA scores 2 late third-period goals for 4-2 win over Canada (SCH)
**Hawks mailbag: Is the Hart Trophy Patrick Kane’s to lose? (Sun-Times)
**Marian Hossa adopts Marko Dano for Christmas (SCH)
**Hockey is a tie that binds for Eddie Olczyk and his family (ESPN)
**Week ahead: Hawks rest up during Christmas break; WJC begins (SCH)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**Avs’ Reto Berra to miss ‘about 10 days’; Pickard recalled (theScore)
**Jets’ Scheifele injured after colliding with Ladd in practice (theScore)
**Blues top Stars 3-2 in shootout (DBD)
**Small mistakes cost Preds in 3-2 loss to Red Wings (OTF)
**Wild fall to Penguins 3-1 (HW)
NHL
**Report: Several teams ‘doing background’ on Canadiens’ Zack Kassian (theScore)
**Recap: Capitals top Habs for 7th straight (NHL)
**Recap: Sabres’ Eichel gets four points against Bruins (NHL)
**Recap: Stamkos scores twice, Lightning top Blue Jackets (NHL)
**Recap: Faulk, Ward lift Hurricanes over Devils (NHL)
**Recap: Kopitar scores OT winner vs. Coyotes (NHL)
HOCKEY WORLD
**Five things learned from Day 1 of WJC (NHL)
**Bruins will loan David Pastrnak to Czech Republic for WJC (theScore)
**Sweden’s Nylander “much better”, but condition monitored after hit (PPP)