Morning Chirps: Spencer Knight's new mask, Logan Cooley injury scare

Rejoice, Chicago Blackhawks fans! Gameday is here! Your favorite team will head to the Motor City after a morning skate to take on the Detroit Red Wings tonight. Be sure to follow along, and we’ll bring you a game preview with tonight’s roster and what to be on the lookout for. Plus, we’ll break it all down for you after the game and bring you the most important developments. Until then, enjoy your Tuesday Morning Chirps!

Blackhawks Chirps

• The Blackhawks spent their fifth day of training camp working on special teams and scrimmaging against each other. I wrote about my three biggest observations of the day, including how the penalty kill unit could be dangerous this season.

• Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times has been keeping tabs on defenseman Kevin Korchinski and how he’s faring in the defensive roster battle in training camp.

• Goaltender Spencer Knight has a new mask this season by renowned Swedish artist David Gunnarsson. The mask celebrates the Blackhawks’ 100th season and includes the famous Chicago skyline. Check it out.

• In case you missed it over the weekend, Roman Kantserov scored again. He’s up to three goals and six points in his first seven Kontinental Hockey League games of the season.

• On this date in 1991, two Blackhawks executives were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame for what they accomplished before joining the team. Pulford was inducted as a player for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings. In won four Stanley Cups with the Maple Leafs, and is seventh in franchise history with 947 games played and 11th with 251 goals. Scott Bowman was inducted for his legendary coaching career, which was far from over at the time.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Sept. 23: Wildor Larochelle and Christian Bordeleau.

NHL Chirps

• The Utah Mammoth received a massive scare during their 5-1 preseason loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. Forward Logan Cooley left the game after a check from behind from Zakhar Bardakov. Fortunately, he is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Utah is also without forwards Jack McBain and Barrett Hayton and defenseman Nate Schmidt. None of these injuries are considered to be serious.

• According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Nashville Predators and restricted free agent Luke Evangelista remain far apart financially on a new contract. Both sides appear to want a two-year bridge deal, but they can’t agree on how much money the 23-year-old will make.

• It sure felt like Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo had played his final game in the National Hockey League. He told reporters on Monday that he has not closed the door on returning to the ice one day. He revealed that the rehab on his injured hips is going well and doesn’t want to resort to surgery yet.

• Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin will not play in any of the team’s preseason games. There have not been any official updates on his injury, but the star blueliner was on the ice Monday in a non-contact jersey.

• All of us at Blackhawk Up are sending our condolences to the family and friends of Bernie Parent, who passed away at 80 over the weekend. The Hall of Fame goaltender won two Stanley Cups, two Vezina Trophies, and two Conn Smythe Trophies as a member of the famous Broad Street Bullies in the 1970s. Parent became a fixture and a beloved member of the Flyers community long after his playing days and will be missed by legions of fans and friends.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Sept. 23: Dixon Ward, Donald Audette, Joffrey Lupul, Yannick Weber, Gabriel Bourque, Pontus Aberg, Owen Sillinger, Michael Callahan, Marco Rossi, and Dylan Holloway.