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Morning Chirps: Korchinski, Levshunov Lead IceHogs to Game 1 Victory

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3 weeks ago

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Now that I’m back from Las Vegas and the world of WrestleMania, we can return to our daily Morning Chirps! The Rockford IceHogs opened the Calder Cup Playoffs with a massive overtime win thanks to goals by two top prospects. Plus, it was another busy night in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Let’s get you caught up…

Blackhawks Chirps

  • While there is no current Blackhawks news today, a pair of important postseason overtime goals were scored on this date. In 2010, the Blackhawks hosted the Nashville Predators in Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The Predators were on their way to taking a 3-2 series lead back to Music City, as they held a 4-3 lead with just over a minute to play when Marian Hossa was given a five-minute major for boarding. Patrick Kane scored a shorthanded goal with 14 seconds left in regulation. After killing off nearly four minutes of power-play time to start overtime, Hossa got out of the penalty box and scored one of the most memorable goals in franchise history.
  • One year later, Ben Smith scored in overtime to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Smith’s goal was possible thanks to Michal Frolik’s third-period penalty-shot goal. The victory forced a Game 7 back in Vancouver after the Canucks jumped out to a 3-0 series lead.

IceHogs Chirps

  • In case you missed yesterday, I previewed the Central Division First Round series between the IceHogs and Chicago Wolves.
  • The AHL veterans have led the IceHogs down the stretch, but the kids did the heavy lifting in their 2-1 overtime win in Game 1. After Rockford failed to convert on three first-period power plays, Juha Jaaska put the Wolves up 1-0 on an early second-period power play. Late in the frame, Kevin Korchinski tied the game with the help of a fortunate bounce. Goaltender Spencer Martin came way out to play Korchinski’s shot from the point, but the shot ricocheted off the end boards and was knocked in by his skate.
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  • The goal horn operator and the pyrotechnic guy thought Wolves captain Ryan Suzuki gave Chicago a 2-1 lead in the third period, but Drew Commesso made one of his best saves of the season.
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  • The IceHogs got their sixth power play nine minutes into overtime, and Artyom Levshunov won the game with his first career AHL playoff goal.
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  • Commesso was the First Star of the game for making 32 saves. Wolves defenseman Scott Morrow was named the Second Star for (checks notes) no points, a minus-1 rating, and taking the delay of game penalty overtime that led to the Levshunov goal. Ok! The IceHogs will get two chances to win the series on home ice, Friday and Sunday afternoon.

NHL Chirps

  • The New York Rangers signed general manager Chris Drury to a multi-year extension. The news did not go over well with many Rangers fans, as his recent history of questionable trades, the handling of young players, and three head coaches in four seasons are on his recent resume.
  • The Winnipeg Jets will look to take a 3-0 stranglehold on the St. Louis Blues later tonight. Injured forward Gabriel Vilardi traveled with the team, even though he has not practiced without a non-contact jersey. Nikolai Ehlers, who was injured against the Blackhawks, did not make the trip to St. Louis.
  • In playoff action, former Blackhawk Dylan Strome scored the game-winning goal in the Washington Capitals’ 3-1 Game 2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. They take a 2-0 series lead to Montreal. In case you’re wondering, Ivan Demidov has no points, no shots on goal, and is a minus-2 through the first two games of the series.
  • It appears that Stan Bowman should have traded for a goaltender after all. His Edmonton Oilers lost 6-2 to the Los Angeles Kings in Game 2. They have allowed 12 goals in two games. Count the Oilers out at your own peril, but they are heading back to Edmonton in a 0-2 hole.
  • Finally, the Dallas Stars beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in overtime, spoiling Gabriel Landeskog’s first NHL game in nearly three years. Mikko Rantanen picked up his first point of the series with an assist on Mason Marchment’s game-winning goal. The Stars have won back-to-back overtime games to take a 2-1 series lead.
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