Morning Chirps: Kantserov starts playoffs with a bang, milestone night across the NHL

The Chicago Blackhawks will be back on the practice ice today after a big win last night. They will continue their four-game road trip at the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow night, with the possibility of Sacha Boisvert’s NHL debut. Stay tuned for any and all updates.

Blackhawks Chirps

• While all the attention was on Anton Frodell’s NHL debut, Arvid Soderblom and Nick Lardis stepped up to lead the Blackhawks to a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders. Check out my postgame thoughts in case you missed them last night.

• Frondell is in the lineup. Sacha Boisvert could make his debut as soon as tomorrow. And next fall, we’ll see Roman Kantserov in a Blackhawks uniform. The young Russian forward has some unfinished business to handle before coming to the Windy City. He’s looking to win his second Gagarin Cup in the last three years. He and the top-seeded Metallurg Magnitogorsk started their postseason against Sibir Novosibirsk. Kantserov had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 victory. Game 2 of their seven-game series will be tomorrow.

• On this date in 1962, Bobby Hull became only the third player in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season by finding the back of the net against the New York Rangers.

• A decade later, Hull made more league history by scoring against the Boston Bruins to join Gordie Howe as the only two members of the NHL’s 600-goal club.

• In 2021, Kevin Lankinen had a night to remember in a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers. He stopped all 41 shots he faced to become the first rookie goaltender in Blackhawks history to record a shutout with more than 40 saves.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, March 25: Bert Gardiner, Ted Bulley, Andrei Nikolishin, Eric Nickulas, and Lance Bouma.

NHL Chirps

• The Boston Bruins’ top prospect, James Hagens, signed an amateur tryout with the AHL’s Providence Bruins. General manager Don Sweeney didn’t rule out an NHL debut this season, but with his team in the thick of the playoff race, he felt the AHL was the best starting point for the seventh overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft.

• Speaking of the playoff race, the Ottawa Senators picked up a huge 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings, spoiling captain Dylan Larkin’s return. Defenseman Carter Yakemchuk had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut as the Senators moved into the second Eastern Conference wild card spot.

• Tuesday was a night of milestones across the NHL. Paul Maurice joined Scotty Bowman as the only head coaches to coach 2,000 games. The Florida Panthers rewarded him with a 5-4 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken. Jake Guentzel scored his 300th career goal in the Tampa Lightning’s 6-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. Finally, Connor McDavid picked up the 400th goal and 1,200th career point as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Utah Mammoth 5-2 to move into second place in the Pacific Division.

• Washington Capitals forward Pierre-Luc Dubois received a match penalty for the intent to injure St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. This was an easy call to make as he grabbed Thomas and threw him down to the ice. Per NHL rules, a match penalty triggers an automatic review by the Department of Player Safety.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, March 25: Bill Barriko, Jean Potvin, Pat Hughes, Bruce Crowder, Ken Wregget, Kurtis MacDermid, and Brendan Gaunce.