The Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, will return to the ice Friday to play Game 1 of the Western Conference Final at Texas.
In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Alex Killorn scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 36 saves to help the Tampa Bay Lightning even the Eastern Conference with a 4-2 win against the Washington Capitals in Game 4 on Thursday.
The Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights will play Game 4 of the Western Conference Final on Friday. Vegas holds a 2-1 series lead.
BLACKHAWKS
**Gustafsson has surgery on broken thumb (SCH)
**Kane’s 2 goals lead Team USA into semifinal at Worlds (SCH)
**Former Hawk of the Week: Mark Bell (SCH)
**Q&A: IceHogs GM Mark Bernard talks prospects, Rockford’s historic postseason (The Athletic)
**IceHogs vs. Stars schedule (SCH)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**Jets great Hawerchuk enjoying protege Scheifele’s success (The Canadian Press)
**Australian fan doing whirlwind tours of Winnipeg, Vegas in order to see idol Fleury in action (Winnipeg Sun)
NHL
**Stanley Cup playoffs: Bracket, schedule, scores and more (SBN)
**ECF Game 4: Vasilevskiy shines Lightning even series against Capitals (Raw Charge)
**Penguins sign Finnish D-man Riikola, per report (Pensburgh)
**Kings sign blue-liner Fantenberg to 1-year extension (theScore)
**Maple Leafs sign 4 players to ELCs (Pension Plan Puppets)
HOCKEY WORLD
**AHL Toronto’s Garret Sparks’ new mask honours Humboldt crash victim Parker Tobin (Sportsnet)
**Gruden finds success after challenging Flint stint (Sportsnet)