Morning Bag Skate: Blackhawks visit Wild in Central Division matchup

The Chicago Blackhawks play their first game of a back-to-back Saturday in Minnesota.

In Hawks prospect action, the Rockford IceHogs fell 3-1 to the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday. Tyler Sikura scored Rockford’s lone goal.

Sophomore Chad Krys scored two goals less than two minutes apart to lead No. 12 Boston University to a 2-1 win over No. 6 Providence. The Hawks drafted him in the second round in 2016.

HAWKS

**Forsling out vs. Wild, could play vs. Canadiens on Sunday (SCH)

**Hawks prospect Mitchell getting shot on Denver’s power play as a freshman (SCH)

**Crawford, 3 other goaltenders carrying their teams right now (SBN)

**Franson adds some muscle to Blackhawks power play (Chicago Tribune)

**Performance bonuses not as much of a concern for Hawks this season (The Athletic)

**Blackhawks defensemen need to go on the offensive (Chicago Sun Times)

CENTRAL DIVISION

**RECAP: Josi, Rinne propel Predators past Ducks (Anaheim Calling)

**Predators' penalty problems affecting rhythm at even strength (The Tennessean)

**Dumba shows mental strength by rebounding from loss with strong  game (Star Tribune)

**Wild looking forward to rematch against ‘No. 1 rival’ Chicago (Star Tribune)

**Avs, Senators discussed 3-way trade involving Duchene and Turris, per report (SBN)

**How long can Avs expect Varlamov to save them? (The Denver Post)

**Varlamov puts his name in Avalanche record books (Mile High Hockey)

**Yeo has relied on defensive nucleus thus far (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

**Blues' Allen enjoying timely reunion with boyhood mentor (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

NHL

**Lost in translation: How players bridge hockey's language barrier (ESPN)

**RECAP: McDavid, Oilers end Devils winning streak at 3 games (All About The Jersey)

**Habs goaltender Price out with lower body injury (Habs Eyes On The Prize)

**Canadiens goaltender recall Charlie Lindgren from Laval (Habs Eyes On The Prize)

**Capitals top prospect Ilya Samsonov suffers concussion during KHL game (PHT)

**Former NHL ref Kerry Fraser diagnosed with incurable form of cancer (PHT)

HOCKEY WORLD

**Doan says he considered suiting up for Canada in Olympics (Sportsnet)

**CHL Power Rankings: Nine players who could climb NHL Draft rankings (Sportsnet)

**QMJHL Roundup: Theede scores twice as Titans beat Screaming Eagles (Sportsnet)

**WHL Roundup: Taphorn, McGovern lead Ice in win over Wheat Kings (Sportsnet)

**RECAP: Western Michigan upsets No. 1 Denver (MLive)

**RECAP: No. 2 St. Cloud State outlast wounded No. 8 Minnesota Duluth (SBNCH)

**RECAP: Yale upsets No. 3 Havard (USCHO.com)

**RECAP: Thome leads No. 4 North Dakota past No. 7 Wisconsin (Grand Forks Herald)

**RECAP: Hawks prospect Krys lead No. 12 BU over No. 6 Providence (USCHO.com)

**RECAP: No. 5 Minnesota tops Michigan State for 3rd straight win (SBNCH)

**RECAP: Army outlasts depleted No. 19 Air Force in series opener (The Gazette)