Daily Blackhawks news and other hockey notables.
- Game previews for tonight’s tilt against the Columbus “detritivore” Blue Jackets. [nhl.com] [Tribune] [CSN] [Cheer The Anthem]
- The Blackhawks lead the League, but they’re looking to improve. [Tribune]
- The next month’s schedule might be rough, might be an opportunity to show of which stuff this team is made. [CSN]
- Rogers thinks play is trending up. [ESPN]
- I’m not quite ready to say that Corey Crawford is back to playing “well”, but here’s the requisite “Controversy? No, two good goalies isn’t a controversy.” article. [CSN]
- Duncan Keith and Sean O’Donnell spent time in the pediatric ward of Evanston Hospital on Christmas Eve. [CSN]
- Speaking of heartwarming stories: Funeral burgers. [PD]
- Nice to be sitting firmly in the top eight and not struggling like some of these unexpectedly poor teams. [CSN]
- Icehogs round-up. [Third Man In]
- Canada and the U.S. headline B Group at the World Junior Championship. [Arctic Ice Hockey]
- Since we had a Team Canada Junior preview last time, here’s the the US, the Czech Republic, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Slovakia, and Latvia. [Puck Worlds]
- ESPN didn’t include one hockey player in its tribute to athletes who died in 2011. Here’s a list and a reminder. [BroadstreetHockey]