CHICAGO — After a day off Sunday, the Bulls return to practice today to prepare for their game Tuesday night against the Pacers in Indianapolis. “We were a little short-handed, and some guys have had to play extra minutes,” Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said of the last two games, a loss at Atlanta on Friday night and a victory over the Miami Heat at the United Center on Saturday night. Del Negro …

ST. LOUIS — Antti Niemi was supposed to return to the Blackhawks’ net when the St.

Ryan McElmurry was on the hunt for Derrick Rose. He was playing in his house, after all. There was a chance that the Galesburg High School junior would run into the Chicago Bulls phenom Saturday when the Silver Streaks played at the United Center.

Brandon Thompson walked into the hallway in the catacombs of the United Center with a fluffy, gray pillow tucked under his left arm. “We had to leave at 6:30 in the morning,” he explained unapologetically. The rest served the Galesburg High School boys basketball team well, as the Silver Streaks shook off an emotional loss to Rock Island the night before and a three-hour bus ride to Chicago for …

The Galesburg High School boys basketball team notched its 17th win — the most since the state runner-up season in 1997-98 — with a 52-42 victory over Blue Island Eisenhower at the United Center.

All right, admit it: The Blackhawks are in a bit of a funk.

Adrian Aucoin netted the decisive goal in the shootout, as the Phoenix Coyotes edged the Chicago Blackhawks, 2-1, at United Center.

Adrian Aucoin netted the decisive goal in the shootout, as the Phoenix Coyotes edged the Chicago Blackhawks, 2-1, at United Center. With the shootout tied heading to the third round, Aucoin fired a shot that deflected in off the right shoulder of Chicago goaltender Cristobal Huet.

The Phoenix Coyotes will try to extend their win streak to a season-high six straight games this evening versus the Chicago Blackhawks, who will try to avoid losing three consecutive games for the first time this season. The Coyotes arrive at the United Center having won five straight games for the second time this season. Phoenix previously posted its longest win streak of the season from …

CHICAGO — Sometimes the simple play is the best play. That’s what the Blackhawks are focusing on getting back to after back-to-back losses against the Carolina Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues