Morning Chirps: Felcman gets first pro point, East playoff race gets even tighter

The Chicago Blackhawks continue their final road trip of the season with a late-night game versus the Seattle Kraken. We’ll have all your game day coverage starting with a preview after today’s morning skate. Will the Blackhawks have a different lineup? Check back in later this afternoon to find out.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Justin Lynch wrote why the second half of this season might just be a perfect storm, as the Blackhawks can add another elite player to an already stacked prospect pool.

• The Rockford IceHogs season got off to a promising start, but a combination of NHL recalls and key injuries has them likely missing the playoffs. Josh Prost explains why next season will be better in Screw City.

• Speaking of the IceHogs, they beat the Iowa Wild 5-2 last night to keep their slim postseason hopes alive. Jiri Felcman picked up his first professional point with the primary assist on Cavan Fitzgerald’s opening goal. Captain Brett Seney led the way with a pair of goals, while Joey Anderson and Jake Furlong also found the back of the net. Taige Harding returned from injury, as the young defenseman played in his first game since March 14. Olivier Rodrigue stopped 17 of the 19 shots he faced. These two teams will travel to Rockford for a rematch tomorrow night at the BMO Center. The IceHogs are six points behind the Milwaukee Admirals for the final playoff spot, but their rivals to the north have two games in hand.

• Adam Gajan put on his IceHogs uniform for the first time as he backed up Rodrigue in Des Moines.

• The United States Hockey League is wrapping up its regular season this weekend. Mason West had a goal and an assist in the Fargo Force’s 8-1 blowout of the Tri-City Storm. The Force has clinched second place in the Western Conference and earned a bye into the Conference Semifinals. West has 10 goals and 25 points in 37 USHL games this season.

• On this date in 1961, Glenn Hall recorded his second straight shutout of the Montreal Canadiens as the Blackhawks advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. This ended the Canadiens five-year reign as NHL champions. It also marked the first time since 1950 that they didn’t play in the Stanley Cup Final.

• In 1973, Pit Martin and Dick Redmond became the first pair of teammates to score hat tricks in the same Stanley Cup Playoff game. Stan Mikita recorded five assists in the 7-1 beating of the St. Louis Blues.

• In 1976, Tony Esposito beat the Blues 7-2 to become the first goaltender in NHL history to have seven straight 30-win seasons.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, April 4: Bobby Burns, Yanic Perreault, Brandon Bochenski, Cam Barker, and Andrew Mangiapane.

NHL Chirps

• Elliotte Friedman reported that the Nashville Predators are nearing the in-person interview stage of their general manager search. He added that he believes Bill Scott (Edmonton Oilers), Scott White (Dallas Stars), Brett Peterson (Florida Panthers), and former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka will be part of that process. Current Predators assistant general manager Jeff Kealty is believed to still be in the mix as well.

• The Columbus Blue Jackets announced that defenseman Damon Severson underwent successful shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the season. The Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, and Detroit Red Wings are all tied for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot with 88 points. Of the four, the Senators have the most regulation wins, with 33.

• Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim became the 34th defenseman to score 10 goals this season in their 4-1 win over the New York Islanders. Only three seasons in NHL history have seen as many blueliners with double-digit goals: 1992-93 (40), 1993-94 (39), and 2023-24 (35).

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, April 4: Blake Dunlop, Gary Lupul, Dake Hawerchuk, Kevin Weekes, Roberto Luongo, Alex Biega, and Hunter Haight.