Morning Chirps: Moore & Rinzel’s Season Ends, Tortorella Hits the Market

The Chicago Blackhawks are back in action this evening when they host the Vegas Golden Knights. We’ll have a full game preview for you later this morning, followed by a postgame report directly from the United Center. Additionally, the NHL coaching carousel is picking up speed, and the Blackhawks will be among its riders this summer.

Blackhawks Chirps

• In case you missed it yesterday, Kevin Korchinski was recalled from the Rockford IceHogs yesterday and will be in the lineup tonight.
• Scott Powers of The Athletic recently interviewed goaltending prospect Drew Commesso, who is playing the best hockey of his young professional career.
• Sara Civian of Bleacher Report listed five potential landing spots for recently fired head coach John Tortorella, including the Blackhawks. She also explained why Chicago is an unlikely destination for the embattled head coach. While Tortorella checks the experience boxes the Blackhawks need, he just admitted that he doesn’t know how to coach a young team during a losing season. Hard pass.
• Speaking of young professional careers, two others might be starting soon. The University of Minnesota was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament last night in a 5-4 overtime loss to UMass. The season-ending sequence was not without controversy, as the referees failed to call a blatant trip at center ice that directly led to the game-winning goal. Blackhawks prospects Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel had primary assists in their final game of the season. Both players can sign with the Blackhawks at any time if they choose to go pro.

• Things went better for Ryan Greene and Boston University as they scored six unanswered goals, including five in the third period, to beat Ohio State 8-3. Green had two helpers in the big win, one on the power play and one on the penalty kill. Boston will play Cornell on Saturday with a trip to the Frozen Four on the line.
• The Ontario Hockey League playoffs started last night. AJ Spellacy had an assist in the Windsor Spitfires 7-2 Game 1 win over the Soo Greyhounds. The Erie Otters beat the Saginaw Spirit 8-5 in the first game of their best-of-seven series. Martin Misiak had a goal and a team-high seven shots, while defensive prospect Ty Henry was a plus-2.
• On this date in 1944, Doug Bentley scored the first postseason hat trick in team history. He added a pair of assists to finish the night with five points in a 7-1 over the Detroit Red Wings.

NHL Chirps

• Rick Tocchet is the only head coach entering the offseason on an expiring contract. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun noted that this gives him flexibility, including the option to seek out the Flyers job. Tocchet played 621 games over 11 seasons with the Flyers, so the connection is there.
• The Flyers are full of stories these days, as defenseman Cam York was benched for the final 10 minutes of Tortorella’s last game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and then didn’t play last night against the Montreal Canadiens due to disciplinary reasons. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic added this little nugget this morning.

• David Staples of the Edmonton Journal speculated what defenseman Evan Bouchard’s next contract might look like. This will be important for the Blackhawks, as it sets the market for some of their young blueliners who will need new contracts over the next few seasons.
• Greg Wyshynski of ESPN gives six theories on why fewer penalties are being called this season.
• Finally, Alex Ovechkin gave us an extraordinary moment last night. No, he didn’t score another goal. After the Washington Capitals 4-2 loss, he called his entire team over to shake hangs with his long-time rival, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, as he will be retiring after the season.