Morning Chirps: Kantserov's season ends, West is heating up

Sunday was a unique day in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with history made. Meanwhile, one of the Chicago Blackhawks' top prospects’ season came to an end, while another is just heating up.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Our newest contributor, Ryan McGregor, gave us his list of the three keys to the Blackhawks' success next season.

• The NHL Draft Lottery will be held on Tuesday night, and I've put together everything you need to know, including the Blackhawks’ odds.

• Roman Kantserov’s KHL season came to an end yesterday, as Metallurg Magnitogorsk lost 4-3 to Ak Bars Kazan in overtime. After leading the league with 36 goals in the regular season, Kantserov had only four goals and eight points in 15 playoff games. After the game, he revealed that he has not yet decided whether he will head to Chicago next season. I wouldn’t sweat these comments. First, they came right after his team’s playoff run ended. He’s not going to say, “Yep, I’m outta here!” Second, he has to give his agent some leverage before signing. Based on all the reports and what I’ve been told this season, I’d be very surprised if he’s not in the Blackhawks’ training camp this fall.

• With all prospects playing in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs, we overlooked the United States Hockey League postseason. Mason West and the Fargo Force made it to the Western Conference Final against the Sioux Falls Stampede. After losing Game 1 6-2, Fargo rebounded with a 2-1 overtime win in Game 2 to even up the best-of-five series. After only one assist in their four-game victory over the Sioux City Musketeers, West had a goal in Game 1 and an assist in Game 2 against the Stampede.

• On this date in 1971, the Chicago Stadium hosted Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Jim Pappin scored 1:11 into the second overtime to give the Blackhawks a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Hall of Famer Jacques Lamaire broke the scoreless tie with a power-play goal late in the second period. Bobby Hull evened things up with a power-play goal of his own about eight minutes into the third period. Tony Esposito made 36 saves to earn the win.

• In 1985, the Blackhawks were blown out 11-2 by the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Campbell Conference Finals. Ken Yaremchuk and Troy Murray had the goals for the Blackhawks. The Oilers had six players with at least three points, including a goal and four points from Paul Coffey and Wayne Gretzky.

• In 1989, the Blackhawks beat the Calgary Flames 4-2 to even the Campbell Conference Finals 1-1. Steve Larmer, Denis Savard, and Steve Thomas scored to give the Blackhawks a 3-0 lead six minutes into the game. Trent Yawney scored an insurance goal midway through the second period.

• One year later, the Blackhawks beat the Oilers 4-3 in Game 2 of the Campbell Conference Finals, sending the series back to Chicago tied 1-1. Murray, Savard, and Thomas scored before Doug Wilson scored the game-winning goal with 1:59 left in regulation.

• In 1992, the Blackhawks took a 2-0 series lead over the Detroit Red Wings in the Norris Division Finals with a 3-1 win. They built a 3-0 lead midway through the game with goals from Jeremy Roenick, Greg Gilbert, and Larmer. A third-period shot by Steve Yzerman was the only one of 25 to get by goaltender Ed Belfour.

• In 2014, Brandon Saad scored twice to lead the Blackhawks to a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round series. Bryan Bickell had a goal and two assists, while Marian Hossa chipped in with three primary assists.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, May 4: Art Michaluk, Fred Stanfield, Kevin Todd, John Madden, Matthew Barnaby, Kyle Baun, and Louis Crevier.

NHL Chirps

• The Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning wrapped up their stellar series with their seventh-straight one-goal game. The Canadiens found a way to win 2-1 despite having only nine shots on goal, setting a Stanley Cup Playoff record for the fewest shots by a winning team. They were held to no shots on goal in the second period, which was the first time in their long and storied history that they had a shotless period in a playoff game. To make matters even more frustrating for the Lightning, neither of the Canadiens’ goals was a thing of beauty. Their first goal went off J.J. Moser’s leg, and Alex Newhook’s series-clinching goal was batted out of midair. Jakub Dobes made 28 saves as Montreal advances to take on the Buffalo Sabres.

• The nightcap saw the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild play a crazy game that ended in a 9-6 Avalanche victory. The home team scored three goals in 2:01 midway through the first period, but the Wild stormed back to take a 5-4 lead late in the middle frame. Their lead only lasted 69 seconds before the Avalanche tied the score. They took control of the game with four third-period goals. Cale Makar, who was injured early in the game and missed most of the first period, scored two goals, including the game-winner. He was one of four Colorado players with at least three points, as his defensive partner, Devon Toews, led the way with a goal and four points. The 15 combined goals tied for the fourth-highest scoring game in Stanley Cup Playoff history.

• The Sabres will be without two centers for their series against the Canadiens, as Lindy Ruff announced Noah Ostlund and Sam Carrick won’t return from their injuries in the second round. Ostlund suffered a lower-body injury in Game 5 against the Bruins. Carrick has been out since suffering an upper-body injury while fighting Anders Lee on March 31.

• The Toronto Maple Leafs officially named John Chayka general manager and Mats Sundin as a senior executive advisor.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, May 4: Leon Rochefort, Kent Huskins, Andrew Raycroft, Derek Roy, James van Riemsdyk, and Logan Cooley.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow