Morning Chirps: Busy date in Blackhawks history, Ovechkin scores No. 900

The Chicago Blackhawks are back in Alberta after their big win over the Vancouver Canucks last night. They will practice today in Calgary before tomorrow night’s game against the Flames. Alex Ovechkin made National Hockey League history last night at the expense of a hated rival. Speaking of history, the Blackhawks had plenty of it on this date. Enjoy the Chirps!

Blackhawks Chirps

• The Blackhawks snapped their 11-game losing streak against the Canucks thanks to a five-goal third period. Tyler Bertuzzi’s hat trick overshadowed the heroics by goaltender Spencer Knight earlier in the game. Check out all my postgame thoughts in case you didn’t stay up late last night.

• The Blackhawks' power play hasn’t produced many goals of late, and before last night’s game, Jeremiah Lee gave some ideas on how to get it going again.

• We knew it was going to be tough for Connor Bedard to make Team Canada this year, and Scott Rogust writes that it might even be harder a month into the season.

• Duncan Keith will rightfully take his place among the legends of the game when he’s inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday. Tracey Myers of NHL.com did a great retrospective of his career, including some thoughts from his long-time teammate, Brent Seabrook.

• On this date in 1938, former Hall of Fame player and three-time Stanley Cup winner King Clancy made his debut as a referee. His first assignment was a 3-2 Blackhawks’ win over the Montreal Canadiens. Clancy spent 11 seasons as a referee before he returned to the Toronto Maple Leafs as a coach and executive until 1986.

• Three years later, Paul Thompson became the first head coach to lead the Blackhawks into a fourth season. They opened the year with a 1-0 shutout over the New York Americans behind Sam Lopresti’s second career shutout.

• In 1943, the Blackhawks beat the New York Rangers 4-3 behind the efforts of 19-year-old goaltender Hec Highton. One of the three goals he allowed was to 42-year-old center Frank Boucher, marking the first time in league history that a 40-year-old scored on a teenage goaltender.

• In 1983, defenseman Doug Wilson set a team record with 12 shots on goal in a 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

• In 1990, Hall of Fame goaltender Dominik Hasek made his NHL debut for the Blackhawks. He made 28 saves in a 1-1 tie with the Hartford Whalers.

• Two years later, Mike Keenan resigned as general manager just a few months after stepping down as head coach to focus solely on his front office role. He returned to the league the following season as head coach of the Rangers.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Nov. 6: Luke Philp

NHL Chirps

• Alex Ovechkin became the first player in NHL history to score 900 career goals as he helped the Washington Capitals roll to a 6-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. There was a time last season when many fans were upset that the Blackhawks didn’t bring in Jim Montgomery, despite it never being a real option. You’re not hearing too much of that now as the Blues are tied with the Flames for the fewest points in the NHL and have the worst goal differential at minus-21.

• Speaking of the Flames, who the Blackhawks will see Friday night, Nazem Kadri scored a goal in his 1,000th career game. He helped lead the way in a 4-1 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He became the second player in team history to score a goal while playing in his 1,000th game, joining Martin Gelinas, who did it in 2003. Before the game, Kadri’s daughter read the starting lineup in the Calgary dressing room.

• It’s a big week for Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry. First, he returned from long-term injured reserve and made his season debut. Now, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger, he and the Jets are making progress on a long-term contract extension.

• The Pittsburgh Penguins have been one of the biggest surprises of the season thus far. However, they were dealt a significant blow by the injury bug, as they lost three key players. Goaltender Tristan Jarry and forwards Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari were all placed on injured reserve. Jarry and Acciari will be out for at least three weeks with upper-body injuries, while Brazeau’s upper-body injury will keep him out of action for at least a month.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Nov. 6: Walt Buswell, Joe Klukay, Marty Pavelich, Albert Langlois, Darryl Edestrand, Erik Cole, Keith Aucoin, Brad Stuart, Sam Reinhart, and Isac Lundestrom.