Morning Chirps: Pridham Keeps on Scoring, Top 50 Free Agents

The Chicago Blackhawks could be part of history tonight as they face off against the Washington Capitals. Alex Ovechkin needs three goals to become the NHL’s all-time leading scorer. We will have more on that and a full game preview later this morning, followed by a full recap with analysis after the game ends.

Blackhawks Chirps

• CHSN announced yesterday that Tuesday’s game at the Pittsburgh Penguins will also air locally live on WCIU.

• Speaking of CHSN, Chicago Bulls President Michael Reinsdorf told Jeff Agrest of the Chicago Sun-Times that Comcast has been acting in “bad faith” during their negotiations.
• Ben Pope of the Sun-Times wrote that the Blackhawks can look to the Montreal Canadiens as their example to follow for next season.  
• Nick Lardis scored his fourth goal of the playoffs and had 13 shots on goal, but it wasn’t enough as the North Bay Battalion fought off elimination with a 6-3 win. The Brantford Bulldogs can close out the series when they host Game 5 on Saturday.

• Jack Pridham scored the opening goal for the Kitchener Rangers in the 5-1 win over the Flint Firebirds. The 2024 third-round pick had seven shots on goal as the Rangers took a 3-1 stranglehold on the series.

• Martin Misiak and Ty Henry recorded assists in the Erie Otters’ 7-3 victory over the Saginaw Spirit, taking a 3-1 lead in the series.
• Alex Pharand picked up an assist in the Sudbury Wolves’ 3-2 loss to the Kingston Frontenacs as Kingston completed the four-game sweep. After scoring 17 goals and 59 points in 65 regular-season games, this was his lone point of the postseason. The 2023 fourth-round pick could play in Rockford next season if he signs with the organization.
• On this date in 1973, forward Pit Martin and defenseman Dick Redmond made postseason history as they became the first teammates to score hat tricks in the same playoff game during a 7-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. Hall of Famer Stan Mikita was credited with five assists in the blowout victory.
• Three years later, Tony Esposito became the first goaltender in NHL history to record at least 30 wins for seven consecutive seasons, achieving the feat by beating the Blues 7-2.

NHL Chirps

• The Detroit Red Wings have been without former Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek for the last four games. Head coach Todd McLellan did not have an update on when Mrazek might return from a head injury.  
• The Blues won their 11^th straight game by beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 in overtime. However, forward Dylan Hollaway left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. He was hurt on a check from rookie Rutger McGroarty, who scored his first NHL goal in the loss.
• Mikko Rantanen recorded two assists in the Dallas Stars’ 5-1 win over the Nashville Predators. He became the third-fastest Finnish-born player to score 700 NHL points, behind only Jari Kurri and Teemu Selanne.
• The Colorado Avalanche clinched a playoff spot with a 7-3 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, a game in which Cale Makar became the ninth defenseman in NHL history to record a 30-goal season.
• Finally, Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff posted his list of the Top 50 unrestricted free agents of 2025. How many of these players will the Blackhawks target?