Nick Schmaltz scored the game-winning goal and Anton Forsberg made five saves in a seven-round shootout to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday at United Center. The victory came in coach Joel Quenneville’s 1,600th game.
In the olympics, the U.S. women rallied to win 3-2 over four-time reigning champion Canada in a shootout. Hilary Knight, who grew up in Lake Forest, scored the opening goal of the game. Palos Heights’ Kendall Coyne played but didn’t score and Downers Grove’s Alex Rigsby did not play.
In the men’s tournament, the semifinal will begin early Friday morning. The Czech Republic will play OAR and Canada will face Germany in the other semifinal.
BLACKHAWKS
**RECAP: Hawks top Senators in 7-round shootout (SCH)
**Blue Jackets asked about Anisimov, but Hawks prefer to keep him, per report (SCH)
**Quenneville no longer ‘hopeful’ about Crawford’s return this season (Chicago Sun-Times)
**Hartman looking forward to trade deadline — in some ways (Chicago Tribune)
**Tracking every Hawks trade rumor leading up to the deadline (SCH)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**’RECAP: Ducks shut out Stars (Defending Big D)
**Reinforcements expected for Preds’ stretch run, including Olympic standout Eeli Tolvanen (The Athletic)
**Pressure on Blues now to make another late run (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
**With MacKinnon in lineup, Avs once again look like playoff team (The Denver Post)
NHL
**Tracking every trade rumor heading into the deadline (SBN)
**Tracking every completed trade before the trade deadline (SBN)
**RECAP: Vegas tops Flames, sets record for points in first NHL season (Knights On Ice)
**Kings acquire Rieder, Wedgewood from Coyotes for Kuemper (Jewels From The Crown)
**Canadiens deal Jerabek to Capitals for 2019 5th-round pick (Habs Eyes On The Prize)
**Could the Maple Leafs find a way to fit John Tavares under the cap? (The Athletic)
HOCKEY WORLD
**U.S. women end drought, beat Canada for Olympic gold in shootout (SBN)
**First heartbreak, now hope: Chicago Cougars’ Matt Olson’s inspiring story of perseverance (The Athletic)
**QMJHL Roundup: Phoenix snap Armada point streak at 17 games with win (Sportsnet)
**WHL Roundup: Broncos tighten up standings with win over Warriors (Sportsnet)