Here is the latest Illinois sports news from The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — The best team in the NHL this season now is off to the best start in league history. The Chicago Blackhawks broke a record with their 17th straight game to open the season without a regulation loss. They beat the San Jose Sharks 2-1 last night to improve to 14-0 with three shootout losses. The win breaks a mark set by the 2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks with points in their first 16 games.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Chicago Bulls beat up on Michael Jordan's team. Taj Gibson scored 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the 105-75 win over the Charlotte Bobcats last night. Jordan watched from the end of the Bobcats bench. The Bulls returned to triple-digit scoring for their first time in seven games. Eight Bulls finished in double figures.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Chicago White Sox have made a preseason trade with the defending World Series champions. The White Sox got third baseman Conor Gillaspie ins exchange for minor league pitcher Jeff Soptic. The 25-year-old Gillaspie spent parts of three seasons with the Giants, hitting .205 with a home run and four RBIs in 29 games and 44 at-bats.

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Rosenthal will get the first crack at impressing St. Louis Cardinals coaches in the battle for the fifth-starter job. He'll take the mound today when the Cardinals open their Grapefruit League schedule against the Miami Marlins. A spot in the rotation opened up now that Chris Carpenter is out for the season.