The NHL suspended Capitals’ Tom Wilson three games Wednesday for his check to Penguins’ Zach Aston-Reese during Game 3 on Tuesday. Wilson wasn’t penalized on the play. Aston-Reese suffered a broken jaw and a concussion stemming from the collision. The Capitals, who hold 2-1 series lead, play Game 4 on Thursday in Pittsburgh.
The Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, will play the Manitoba Moose, the Winnipeg Jets’ minor league team, in Game 1 of the Central Division final Friday at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg.
BLACKHAWKS
**Hawks were painfully close to winning No. 1 pick (SCH)
**Carcillo pledges to donate his brain to Carrick Institute (SCH)
**Svedberg is living it up in Rockford without giving up on NHL (The Athletic)
**Hawks prospect Luke Johnson puts rough first pro season behind him (The Athletic)
**IceHogs vs. Manitoba Moose schedule (SCH)
**Which Hawks will play at Worlds? (SCH)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**Stars to hire Denver’s Montgomery as head coach (Defending Big D)
**Avs sign KHL goalie Francouz to 1-year deal (Mile High Hockey)
NHL
**Stanley Cup playoffs: Bracket, schedule, scores and more (SBN)
**Game 4: Sharks, Jones shut out Golden Knights to even series (NHL.com)
**Game 3: Lightning strike early, take series lead over Bruins (Raw Charge)
**Capitals’ Wilson handed 3-game suspension (Japers’ Rink)
**Bruins-Flames to play 2 preseason games in China in September (Stanley Cup of Chowder)
HOCKEY WORLD
**IIHF suspends Swedish players, coaches for World Junior medal ceremony conduct (PHT)
**Flyers’ Hart takes home 3rd straight WHL goalie of the year award (theScore)
**QMJHL Final Preview: Armada, Titan both have something to prove (Sportsnet)
**City of Mississauga, Steelheads announce new five-year lease agreement (Sportsnet)