Morning Chirps: NCAA, OHL Postseasons Set, Near Goalie Fight

The Chicago Blackhawks will enjoy a well-deserved day off after back-to-back games over the weekend. They will return to action on Wednesday night when they host the New Jersey Devils. Meanwhile, several prospects in the NCAA and OHL learned where their postseasons will begin. Plus, frustrations are building in the NHL’s tight playoff race.

Blackhawks Chirps

• The Blackhawks scored a season-high seven goals yesterday to knock off the Philadelphia Flyers and end their seven-game losing streak.
• You can get the take of Sunday’s contest from behind enemy lines by William James of Philly Hockey Now.
• On Sunday, the NCAA announced the 2025 Division 1 Men’s Ice Hockey Championship brackets. The 16-team field will play a single-elimination tournament culminating with the Frozen Four on April 10 & 12 in St. Louis. Aiden Thompson and Denver start the defense of their National Championship as the third seed in the Manchester Region, where they will play Providence College and fellow Blackhawks’ prospects John Mustard, Taige Harding, and Connor Kelley. Sam Rinzel, Oliver Moore, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers are the second seed in the Fargo Region and will play UMass in the first round. Ryan Greene and Boston University are the second seed in the Toledo Region and open the tournament against Ohio State.
• The Ontario Hockey League’s regular season concluded on Sunday, and the 16-team field is set for the J. Ross Robertson Cup. Nick Lardis, Marek Vanacker, and the Brantford Bulldogs are the top seed in the Eastern Conference and will play the North Bay Battalion in the first round. Alex Pharand and the sixth-seeded Sudbury Wolves take the Kingston Frontenacs. In the Western Conference, AJ Spellacy and the Windsor Spitfire are the second seed and open the postseason against the Soo Greyhounds. Jack Pridham and his Kitchener Rangers are the third seed and will play the Flint Firebirds. Martin Misiak, Ty Henry, and the rest of the Erie Otters are seeded fifth and will play the Saginaw Spirit. All four rounds of the OHL postseason are best-of-seven.

NHL Chirps

• Things haven’t been going well for the Devils. Losing Jack Hughes for the season doesn’t help, and now head coach Sheldon Keefe has a new target for his ire. After Saturday’s loss to the Ottawa Senators, Keefe ripped defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic. Grab your popcorn!
• Keefe isn’t the only head coach trying to motivate through the press. Detroit Red Wings bench boss Todd McLellan vented his frustrations after Saturday’s 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. While he didn’t name specific players, he questioned his team’s willingness to do the little things it takes to get to the postseason.        
• Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reminded us all that it is hard to learn how to play defense in the NHL.
• The Columbus Blue Jackets have been an excellent story for much of the season, but they have been playing their way out of the postseason over the past few games. They have eight of their last nine games, including six straight. Columbus went from owning one of the Eastern Conference Wild Card spots to four points out. According to Jeff Svoboda, the Blue Jackets will get a boost for their game against the New York Islanders tonight as forward Sean Monahan and Erik Gudbranson could return to the lineup. The Islanders are two points ahead of the Blue Jackets for the final Wild Card spot.
• Former Blackhawk Taylor Hall scored three times in the third period for his sixth career hat trick, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Since being acquired by the Hurricanes on Jan. 24, Hall has six goals and 11 points in 20 games, averaging just over 15 minutes per game.

• We almost had the rare goalie fight Sunday night between Jeremy Swayman and Darcy Kuemper, but the officials prevented it. Let them go!