Morning Chirps: Big night for Blackhawks prospects, Marner returns to Toronto

The Chicago Blackhawks have the day off after earning three points in back-to-back games against the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning. They will be back in action tomorrow night against the Florida Panthers for Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Last year’s Blackhawks would have lost last night’s game 7-1, but this year’s squad is finding ways to earn points on bad nights. That’s serious growth! Check out my postgame thoughts, in case you missed them last night.

• We talked about the win on the CHGO Blackhawks Postgame show, while Jay and I paid tribute to a Chicago media legend.

• Nestor Quixtan says there is still a path for Connor Bedard to play for Team Canada at the upcoming Winter Olympics.

• Nicholas Giannone wrote about how much better Oliver Moore has played since making the move to center.

• The Winnipeg Jets released a great behind-the-scenes video of Jonathan Toews' return to the United Center earlier this week.

• The Rockford IceHogs had a rough night at the BMO Center, getting shut out 5-0 by the Texas Stars. Drew Commesso allowed five goals on 36 shots, while the IceHogs couldn’t get any of their 24 shots past Texas goalie Arno Tiefensee. Aidan Thompson returned from an upper-body injury that kept him out of the lineup since Dec. 12. The IceHogs will host the Chicago Wolves later tonight.

• Marek Vanacker scored twice in the Brantford Bulldogs’ 5-4 overtime win over the Sudbury Wolves. He’s up to an OHL-leading 33 goals.

• Jack Pridham became the second player to hit the 30-goal mark in the OHL. He also recorded two assists in the Kitchener Rangers’ 6-2 blowout of the Owen Sound Tigers.

• Providence College and Boston University kicked off their two-game weekend series. John Mustard and Julius Sumpf each had assists as the No. 11 Friars beat the No. 18 Terriers 4-3. Sacha Boisvert served the first game of his two-game suspension for fighting last weekend.

• On this date in 1960, Glenn Hall played in his 328th consecutive game, tying Georges Vezina for the most in league history. His historic streak reached 502 games before it ended, a record that will never be broken.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Jan. 24: Cy Wentworth and Gus Mortson.

NHL Chirps

• The Vancouver Canucks are one of the few sellers at this point in the season. They have already traded Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood. Veteran forward Evander Kane could be next, and according to Kevin Weekes, the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are the favorites to acquire him.

• Mitch Marner made his return to Toronto for the first time since being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. While he did get a warm reception during his video tribute, Maple Leafs fans gave him plenty of boos throughout the night. Although he did not find the scoresheet, Marner got the last laugh as the Golden Knights won 6-3. Defenseman Rasmus Andersson picked up an assist in his debut with Vegas. Captain Mark Stone was the hero with two goals and an assist to extend his franchise-record point streak to 14 games.

• Macklin Celebrini scored twice in the San Jose Sharks’ 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. He became the fastest player in team history to score 50 goals, doing it in 120 games, 15 fewer than the previous record holder, Logan Couture.

• Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun tried to score a “Michigan” goal, but Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley denied him. The Capitals ended up winning 3-1.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Jan. 24: Guy Charron, Mark Reeds, Tom Kostopoulos, Jack Hillen, Zack Kassian, and Dylan Samberg.