This is more than just a half-baked idea.

The Chicago Blackhawks are giving away Artemi Panarin bobbleheads Sunday at the United Center, and the forward's figurine is holding a loaf of bread.

Panarin was dubbed "Bread Man" by head coach Joel Quenneville and his teammates because of his surname's similarity to the Panera Bread chain.

The Calder Trophy winner, who's known for slicing through defenses and who rarely loafs on the ice, looks thrilled about his likeness.

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The ninth of nine wins in a row for the Columbus Blue Jackets came in style.

Cam Atkinson and Seth Jones worked a two-on-one to perfection in overtime Sunday, with Jones sliding the puck past a helpless Ryan Miller to end the festivities.

Columbus has outscored its opposition 36-14 during its run.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets may not lose again this year.

John Tortorella's club won its ninth straight Sunday, a 4-3 overtime decision over the Canucks in Vancouver. The win was Tortorella's 500th of his NHL career, coming against the team that fired him one year into a five-year contract.

Tortorella is the first American-born head coach to reach the milestone, and the 24th overall.

The victory was earned by Columbus. The Blue Jackets blew a 2-0 lead before going up 3-2 with under five minutes to play in the third. Vancouver then tied it up with 1:09 to play. The Canucks' three third-period goals were the first three allowed by the Blue Jackets in the final period this month.

Columbus' nine straight victories matches a club record it set in 2015. The Blue Jackets look to make history Tuesday at home against the Los Angeles Kings.

In more record-setting news: Blue Jackets blue-liner Zach Werenski equaled the club record for most points in a season by a rookie defenseman, picking up an assist to give him 21 points in 29 games.

It's been that kind of year in Ohio.

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It could be a very happy holiday for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Head coach Joel Quenneville said Sunday there's a chance Corey Crawford could play before Christmas, according to Blackhawks TV's Eric Lear.

Quenneville said he's eyeing Friday's home game against the Colorado Avalanche for Crawford's return, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The goaltender was given a two-to-three week recovery timetable after having an emergency appendectomy performed Dec. 3, and he apparently remains on schedule for a potential return before the holiday.

“He was out there (Sunday) with some players, and so he got some good work again,” Quenneville said. “(He’ll practice) Tuesday, and we’ll look at the 23rd as an option.”

Chicago begins a four-game homestand with a matchup against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday. The Blackhawks host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, then the Avalanche on Friday before taking three days off ahead of a Dec. 27 date with the Winnipeg Jets.

Sunday's game will be the ninth game Crawford has missed since having the procedure.

Scott Darling has filled in admirably in the starter's absence, winning each of the last four games and five of the eight since Crawford was forced out of the lineup, but he's given up eight goals combined in the last two contests.

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Luke Kunin will wear the "C" for the American entry in the World Junior Hockey Championship.

The Minnesota Wild first-round pick was named captain of the United States team for the 2017 tournament, USA Hockey announced Sunday.

Colin White and Charlie McAvoy were named alternate captains.

"I couldn't be happier to have these three quality guys leading this (dressing) room," head coach Bob Motzko said in a release.

"We've been saying it every day that there's a pulse with this group. We know Luke, Charlie and Colin are at the center of that through their style of play and their tremendous amount of heart. We're fortunate to have them leading this team."

Kunin captained the U.S. Under-18 team to a gold medal at the world championship in 2015. The 19-year-old has 11 goals and 17 points in 16 games with the Wisconsin Badgers in his second college campaign.

Minnesota selected him 15th overall in June.

White was an alternate captain for the bronze medal-winning U.S. squad at last year's tournament. McAvoy was also a member of that team, and was Kunin's teammate on the Under-18 world champions in 2015.

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Patrik Laine got back on the scoresheet in an emphatic way.

The rookie finished off a 2-on-1 by driving home a one-timer on a pass by Mark Scheifele to open the scoring for the Winnipeg Jets against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

It was Laine's 18th goal of the season, and his first in five games.

Prior to the four-game drought, he had notched five goals in five contests, and that was preceded by a stretch in which he managed only one goal in 10 games.

Laine's streakiness is typical of an 18-year-old in his first NHL campaign, but there's no denying his talent, or the fact that he's already among the league's elite finishers.

The second-overall pick in June's draft is third in in goal scoring among all skaters behind only Sidney Crosby and Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak.

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Darryl Sutter needs more from Marian Gaborik.

The Los Angeles Kings forward was a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against the Boston Bruins.

Gaborik missed the first 21 games of the regular season with a foot injury he sustained while competing at the World Cup. Since his return, he's recorded four points in nine games, but has found the back of the net just once.

Injuries limited Gaborik to 54 games last season, in which he scored 12 goals, but he tallied 27 the year prior, despite missing 13 matches.

Gaborik, 34, has four years remaining on his contract, at a $4.88-million cap hit.

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Randy Carlyle wants to set the record straight.

Speaking with reporters prior to Monday's match between the Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs, the former Leafs bench boss clarified, "Jake Gardiner, people said that there was a relationship that was strained. They're crazy. It was not strained at all.

"The issue was more of a young defenseman cutting his teeth, and now you're seeing more of a finished product, and that's great for them."

Gardiner, 26, broke into the league under Carlyle, making his NHL debut during the 2011-12 season. It also marked Carlyle's first season in Toronto, who came on as a midseason replacement for fired head coach Ron Wilson. That season, Gardiner finished with an impressive 30-point rookie campaign.

Carlyle, who now mans the bench in Anaheim, recounted the several faces still with the Maple Leafs since he spent part of four seasons behind the Toronto bench. Aside from Gardiner, that list includes forwards Tyler Bozak, James van Riemsdyk, and Nazem Kadri, plus defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Oh, and netminder Jonathan Bernier, who followed Carlyle to Anaheim.

Bernier also spoke with reporters on Sunday but could not confirm if he would get the start in goal versus his former club. Bernier, who spent three seasons with the Maple Leafs, has appeared in 13 games with the Ducks this season, posting a 6-2-1 record alongside a .901 save percentage.

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Vancouver Canucks blue-liner Erik Gudbranson will undergo wrist surgery in order to repair ligament damage, the team announced Sunday.

A timeline on Gudbranson's recovery will be provided following the surgery.

"Erik suffered ligament damage to his wrist this season that has affected his wrist function," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said in a statement. "Erik's leadership qualities and strong physical presence will be missed but this is a decision that best supports a long, productive, and healthy career."

Gudbranson has appeared in 30 games this season, scoring one goal and five assists.

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