Blackhawks notebook: Alex, William Nylander square off for third time

The Blackhawks’ Alex Nylander, 21, and the Maple Leafs’ William Nylander, 23, grew up competing not just in hockey, but in golf, tennis, table tennis and more.

Being two years older, William always had the upper hand strength-wise, Alex admitted Sunday. But now that they’re full grown and in the NHL, the table has evened and the sibling rivalry has entered the national spotlight.

“It’s crazy how we’re both at this level now,” Alex said before they met on the ice. “Our goal was to make it to the NHL. It’s just going to be really fun tonight.”

“Sometimes we’re friends, sometimes we come out of it not friends, but at the end of the day, we’re brothers,” he added, grinning.

As children, both briefly played for the Chicago Mission youth hockey program, so Alex had the home-ice advantage in multiple ways. Both of their previous NHL meetings came when Alex played for Buffalo, and despite scoring in their contest last spring, Alex’s Sabres lost 4-2 to William’s Maple Leafs both times.

The brothers weren’t able to meet for lunch Sunday, with both teams traveling in from games Saturday night, but they expected to have a lot of their extended family watching on television.

Alex said their competition has often spilled over to comparing point totals throughout their hockey careers, and that’s certainly no different in the NHL. This is the first season Alex has a real shot of keeping up, although William extended his advantage to 15-7 by scoring twice in the game.

“We obviously want to help each other get better, individually, as hockey players,” Alex said. “Just a real easy brother to have. It’s been great growing up with him.”

Kubalik responds

Even in a game with Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews, there was no surer bet to score in the Hawks-Penguins game Saturday than Dominik Kubalik.

The Hawks’ healthy scratches have consistently responded to their demotions with huge goals upon their returns to the lineup.

First, Nylander, scratched Oct. 12 against the Jets, scored on Oct. 14 against the Oilers. Then, Drake Caggiula, scratched Oct. 26 against the Hurricanes, scored on Oct. 27 against the Kings.

And then Saturday, Kubalik — scratched Thursday against the Canucks, prompting fan outrage — predictably scored the opening goal of the night off a beautiful feed from Brandon Saad.

“That’s probably the best response that I could do,” he said. “I was trying to make some plays to show up.”

Still skating in mornings

Some teams are scaling back the frequency of their morning skates. The Penguins are one such group. Despite not playing Friday, they didn’t skate Saturday morning at home.

But the Hawks are still going strong, skating virtually every game day except on the second legs of back-to-backs.

Asked about that Saturday, coach Jeremy Colliton said the pattern is more due to players’ preferences than his own.

“I don’t think you need it. It’s unnecessary,” he said. “But some guys feel they need it to get out there and feel the puck and just get in their routine.”