Morning Chirps: Kantserov has a big game, Tkachuk staying put

While the Chicago Blackhawks season has been over for two weeks, there are still some important prospects enjoying success in their respective postseasons. Meanwhile, a player many fans want to see in the Windy City is not going to be traded.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Metallurg Magnitogorsk rebounded nicely after dropping the opening game of the Gagarin Cup Semifinals 5-2 to Ak Bars Kazan. Roman Kantserov had a goal and two assists in their 4-2 Game 2 win to even the series. He has four goals and eight points in 12 playoff games.

• There was a quick turnaround in the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference Championship Series. The series switched to Windsor for Game 3, where the Spitfires beat the Kitchener Rangers 4-2. Jack Pridham had the primary assist on the Rangers’ first goal. A.J. Spellacy was a plus-1 with a shot on goal. Kitchener still leads the series 2-1, with Game 4 on Wednesday night.

• Be sure you’re signed up for the Blackhawk Up Newsletter for the latest on a potential target in free agency.

• On this date in 1992, the Blackhawks eliminated the St. Louis Blues with a 2-1 victory in Game 6 of the Norris Division Semifinals. Jeremy Roenick scored both goals, while goaltender Ed Belfour made 38 saves to get the Blackhawks into the next round.

• In 1994, the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Blackhawks 1-0 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. This was the final NHL game ever played at the historic Chicago Stadium. Hall of Famer Mike Gartner had the only goal of the game, the final one scored in the old barn.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, April 28: Hank Blade, Howie Menard, Kevin Lankinen, and Nolan Allan.

NHL Chirps

• Not only are the Pittsburgh Penguins still alive, but they have all the momentum now after their second straight win over the Philadelphia Flyers. They forced a Game 6 back in Philadelphia tomorrow after a 3-2 win last night. This was the most entertaining game of the series so far. The Penguins jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Elmer Soderblom and Connor Dewar, but the Flyers tied the game before the end of the second period. Kris Letang was credited with the game-winning goal late in the third period when his shot hit the end boards and then deflected off the back of goaltender Dan Vlader. Sidney Crosby had two assists. Letting him hang around for another game is dangerous.

• The Vegas Golden Knights were cruising, up 3-0, and looking like they were going to even their series up at 2-2. Then the Utah Mammoth woke up and stormed back. Nick Schmaltz and Ian Cole scored 29 seconds apart to get the Delta Center rocking midway through the second period. Michael Carcone tied the game 1:45 into the third period before Clayton Keller gave the Mammoth a 4-3 lead just over three minutes later. However, Brett Howden scored his second goal of the game to even things up just past the midway point of the final frame.

Pavel Dorofeyev, who scored the game's opening goal, thought he won the game in overtime, but Jack Eichel was ruled to be offside after a review. Late in overtime, Utah netminder Karel Vejmelka lost his stick, and his net, and Shea Theodore scored to send the series back to Las Vegas tied 2-2.

• The Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars will play a pivotal Game 5 later tonight, with one team taking a 3-2 series lead. The Wild will get Mats Zuccarello back into their lineup. He missed the last three games with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Dallas defenseman Nils Lundqvist will miss the game after suffering a deep facial laceration in Game 4.

• Some Blackhawks fans love to think that Brady Tkachuk will be available on the trade market. However, Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios clearly stated that he has no interest in trading his captain, and hasn’t even considered talking about it. Even if they did want to trade Tkachuk, he has a full no-move clause in his contract.  

• According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Macklin Celebrini, Gavin McKenna, Mark Scheifele, Matt Barzal, and Morgan Reilly will all play for Canada at the upcoming IIHF World Championship. There has been no indication of whether Connor Bedard will play this year after skipping last year’s tournament.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, April 28: Wally Stanowski, Mel Bridgeman, Brad Shaw, Ted Donato, Nicklas Lidstrom, Christian Backman, Roman Polak, David Krejci, Luke Glendening, Joonas Korpisalo, Connor Clifton, Thomas Novak, Jeremy Lauzon, and Drew Fortescue.

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