Morning Chirps: Canada considering Blackhawks prospect for WJC, a Tkachuk brother nearing his return

The Chicago Blackhawks are back in action tonight as they host the Seattle Kraken. They will travel to take on the Buffalo Sabres tomorrow night for their first set of games on back-to-back days of the season. We’ll have a full preview after morning skate with lineups, stats, and three things to watch.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Kyle Bokota has been happy with Artyom Levshunov’s development and says we are watching him become a star.

• Jeff Maroon has come up with his own NHL power rankings, and you might be surprised where the Blackhawks land.

• Todd Mattews looks at what Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini accomplished earlier this week, something the NHL hasn’t seen since World War II.

• The Rockford IceHogs had another rough go of it last night, losing 5-1 to the first-place Grand Rapids Griffins. Gavin Hayes had the primary assist on Jamie Engelbert’s third-period power-play goal. He has three helpers for the season. Nick Lardis missed his second straight game. However, his absence was due to an illness and not the minor injury that kept him out of Sunday’s game. The IceHogs will head to the Lone Star State for a pair of games against the Texas Stars on Friday and Saturday.

• According to Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal, Blackhawks prospect John Mustard is under consideration for Canada’s World Junior Championship roster. He has seven goals and 12 points in 11 games during his sophomore season at Providence College.

• On this date in 1955, all six teams were in action, and all three games ended in 1-1 ties, including the Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings. Each contest was the second half of a home-and-home series, with the visiting team having won on home ice the previous night. Also, no goals were scored in the third period on this night.

• In 1988, the Blackhawks retired the numbers of two legendary goaltenders. Glenn Hall’s No. 1 and Tony Esposito’s No. 35 were sent up to the rafters of the Chicago Stadium. They could have used one of those two in the net that night, as Darren Pang was roughed up in a 7-4 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Nov. 20: Billy Burch.

NHL Chirps

• Brady and Matthew Tkachuk have had plenty of time to start their new Wingmen podcast since both are on injured reserve. On the latest episode, Brady said he hopes to return to the Ottawa Senators’ lineup “around Thanksgiving.”

• The Winnipeg Jets signed captain Adam Lowry to a five-year contract extension. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the deal is worth $25 million.

• The New York Islanders placed defenseman Alexander Romanov on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen will face no disciplinary action for the play that caused the injury Tuesday night.

• Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy underwent facial surgery after being hit with a puck on Nov. 15. There is no timetable for his return.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Nov. 20: Bob Murdoch, John Van Boxmeer, John MacLean, and Max Pacioretty.