Morning Chirps: Blackhawks playoff memories, both top seeds go up 3-0

While the Chicago Blackhawks are not participating in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, they made plenty of postseason memories on this date. You’ll be able to catch all their Ontario Hockey League prospects in playoff action tonight.

Blackhawks Chirps

• While the majority of the Blackhawks roster is set, general manager Kyle Davidson will still need to make a couple of moves this summer to get them to the next level. Nestor Quixtan gives us three unrestricted free agents he should target.

• Don’t forget about the Blackhawk Up newsletter for extra Blackhawks content you can’t get anywhere else, sent directly to your inbox.

• On this date in 1983, the Blackhawks opened the Campbell Conference Finals against the Edmonton Oilers. It was all Oilers after Al Secord scored the first goal of the series, as they scored the next six goals in an 8-4 victory. Wayne Gretzky led the way with a goal and four assists. Secord scored a second goal, with Doug Crossman and Billy Gardner also finding the back of the net. Tony Esposito allowed all eight goals on 36 shots.

• In 1989, Steve Larmer’s power-play goal with less than five minutes to play gave the Blackhawks a 3-1 lead over the St. Louis Blues in the Norris Division Finals. A pair of defenseman, Trent Yawny and Keith Brown, provided the first two goals in a 3-2 victory.

• One year later, the Blackhawks beat the Blues again, 3-2, to even up the Norris Division Finals at two games apiece. Yawny scored the game-winning goal on a late second-period power play. Wayne Presley and Michel Goulet scored 36 seconds apart earlier in the frame.

• In 1992, the Blackhawks earned yet another playoff win over the Blues. Their 5-3 victory evened up the Norris Division Semifinals after four games. Jeremy Roenick, Brent Sutter, Stephane Matteau, Brian Noonan, and Mike Hudson led the Blackhawks’ offensive attack.

• If you just say the words “Game 5” to most Blackhawks fans, they will know exactly what you’re talking about. On this date in 2010, the Blackhawks beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. With the Blackhawks down a goal, Marian Hossa was given a five-minute boarding major with just over a minute left to play. Patrick Kane saved the day by tying the game with a shorthanded goal with only 14 seconds remaining. After killing off the remainder of Hossa’s penalty to start overtime, he went right from the penalty box to the front of the net and scored one of the biggest goals in franchise history, giving the Blackhawks a 3-2 series lead.

• One year later, Ben Smith scored in overtime to beat the Vancouver Canucks in Game 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The win was the Blackhawks’ second straight, forcing a seventh and final game back in Vancouver.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, April 24: Gus Bodnar and Jeff Jackson.

NHL Chirps

• The Buffalo Sabres grabbed a 2-1 series lead last night by beating the Boston Bruins 3-1. After the Bruins grabbed an early 1-0 lead, the Sabres got three unanswered goals from Bowen Byram, Alex Tuch, and Noah Ostlund. Buffalo earned the big road victory without forward Josh Norris and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who were both out with injuries. Alex Lyon made 24 saves in his first start of the postseason. His biggest save came on a Viktor Arvidsson penalty shot with the game tied midway through the second period. About a minute later, Tuch scored the eventual game-winning goal. Game 4 will be in Boston on Sunday afternoon.

• The Carolina Hurricanes, the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference, took a 3-0 stranglehold on the Ottawa Senators with a 2-1 win. Logan Stankoven continued his big series by opening the scoring with his third goal in as many games. A little over a minute after Drake Batherson tied the game, Jackson Blake scored the game-winning goal. Former Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall recorded assists on both goals. He has a goal and five points in the series. To make matters worse for the Senators, star defenseman Jake Sanderson left the game early in the second period after being hit in the head by Hall. He had two shifts after the hit before heading back to the locker room for the night. There was no update on his condition after the game. Ottawa will look to fend off elimination on Saturday afternoon.

• The top team in the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche, also went up 3-0 after beating the Los Angeles Kings 4-2. Cale Makar, who was held off the scoresheet in the first two games of the series, broke a 1-1 tie in the second period. Artturi Lehkonen’s third-period shorthanded goal proved to be the game-winner. The Avalanche can advance to the next round with a win on Sunday afternoon.

• The Philadelphia Flyers can complete their sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night, but they might have to do so without goaltender Dan Vladar. He missed yesterday’s practice after suffering a possible arm injury in a collision with Byran Rust. Head coach Rick Tocchet said his status for Game 4 is uncertain. Vladar has arguably been the Flyers’ MVP during their recent hot stretch that got them into the postseason and one win away from the second round.

• The Dallas Stars grabbed a 2-1 series lead over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. Stars fans got some good news yesterday as it was revealed that forward Roope Hintz has started skating on his own. He’s been ruled out for Game 4 and is unlikely to play in Game 5. According to Lia Assimakopoulos, head coach Glen Gulutzan wants him to practice with the team before returning to game action.

• St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou could be on the trade block this summer and might be a target of the Blackhawks. He’ll be spending his summer rehabbing after a minor knee procedure this week that is not expected to impact training camp in the fall.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, April 24: Phil Watson, Darren Veitch, David Maley, Ken Klee, Bryon Ritchie, Frans Nielsen, Kris Letang, and Tyler Toffoli.

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