Morning Chirps: One former Blackhawk to make postseason debut, while another heads to Europe

Sunday will be another busy day in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with four games. Before you start your busy day of hockey, get caught up from a busy Saturday with today’s Morning Chirps.

Blackhawks Chirps

• We all know, and hopefully the Blackhawks’ front office knows it too, but as Jeremiah Lee writes, Connor Bedard needs help, and needs it now.

• Metallurg Magnitogorsk lost Game 1 of the KHL semifinals 5-2 to Ak Bars Kazan. Roman Kantserov did not factor in either goal, but had four shots on goal. Former Blackhawk and IceHog Lucas Johnson scored Metallurg’s first goal. Former Blackhawks prospect Ilya Safonov scored the game’s opening goal. Game 2 will be on Monday.

• On this date in 1983, the Blackhawks lost 8-2 in Game 2 of the Campbell Conference Finals. The game was tied 2-2 11 minutes in thanks to goals from Bob Murray and Tom Lysiak. The Oilers scored six unanswered goals and put up eight goals for the second straight game. Glenn Anders had four goals, while Mark Messier netted a hat trick. Wayne Gretzky had a pair of assists.

• In 1989, Jeremy Roenick scored the game-winning goal as the Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues 4-2 to win the Norris Division Finals in five games. Steve Thomas had a goal and an assist, while Steve Larmer and Dave Manson each chipped in with a pair of assists. The Blackhawks advanced to the Campbell Conference Finals against the Calgary Flames.

• In 1992, the Blackhawks beat the Blues again, this time 6-4 to take a 3-2 series lead in the Norris Division Semifinals. Larmer led the way with two goals. Chris Chelios’ third goal of the series early in the third period proved to be the game-winner.

• In 2010, the Blackhawks wrapped up their series against the Nashville Predators with a 5-3 win in Game 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Patrick Sharp had a goal and two assists, while Marian Hossa assisted on three of the Blackhawks’ five goals.

• In 2011, the Blackhawks’ reign as Stanley Cup champions came to an end with a Game 7 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. They forced a seventh and final game after being down 3-1. Jonathan Toews scored a shorthanded goal with less than two minutes to play to send the game into overtime. Alexandre Burrows ended the series 5:22 into extra time with his second goal of the night. The Canucks went on to lose the Stanley Cup Final to the Boston Bruins in seven games.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, April 26: Red Almas, Pat Ribble, Jean Savard, Craig Adams, and Jonas Nordqvist.

NHL Chirps

• Remember when Brady Tkachuk fought at the opening faceoff of the series only to have no points as the Ottawa Senators got swept by the Carolina Hurricanes? Good time! The Hurricanes are the first team into the second round after beating the Senators 4-2 in Game 4. The game was full of physicality and questionable plays, but Carolina got the last laugh. The line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake continued to dominate. They combined for six goals and 15 points in the four games.

• The Hurricanes will have to wait to see who their next opponent will be as the Pittsburgh Penguins fought off elimination. They beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 to force a Game 5 back in Pittsburgh Monday night. Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell led the way with a goal and an assist. Goaltender Arturs Silovs made 28 saves to earn the win in his first start of the series.

• The game of the day took place in St. Paul, as the Minnesota Wild evened their series with the Dallas Stars with a 3-2 overtime win in Game 4. Jason Robertson opened the scoring with a goal in his fourth straight game. Marcus Foligno tied the game late in the third period before Matt Boldy won it with 29 seconds left in overtime. The series heads back to Dallas for a pivotal Game 5 on Tuesday.

• There was a scary moment in the second period as Stars defenseman Nils Lundqvist took a skate to the face while battling for a puck. He did not return to the game, and head coach Glen Gulutzan said he suffered a “deep facial laceration.”

• Speaking of injured defenseman, Josh Manson has been ruled out for today’s Game 4 against the Los Angeles Kings. Nick Blankenburg will draw into the lineup as the Colorado Avalanche look to complete the four-game sweep.

• Lukas Reichel will make his Stanley Cup Playoff debut for the Boston Bruins this afternoon, as he draws in for James Hagens.

• Former Blackhawks defenseman Ian Mitchell has signed a two-year contract with SC Bern of the Swiss National League.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, April 26: Cecil Dillon, Bruce MacGregor, Glenn Goldup, Vaclav Varada, and Kirill Karpizov.

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