Morning Chirps: Last Game at the Madhouse, Oilers Make Stunning Comeback

Today marks 31 years since a Chicago Blackhawks game was played at the “Old Barn.” We’ll also catch you up on another busy and exciting day in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Let’s start your work week off with some Morning Chirps!

Blackhawks Chirps

• Advert your eyes, Blackhawks fans, as Pat Maroon threw on his old St. Louis Blues jersey yesterday and got the crowd pumped up ahead of Game 4.

• Jack Pridham had a primary assist as he helped the Kitchener Rangers tie the London Knights 2-2 early in the second period of Game 2. Unfortunately, the Knights scored four unanswered goals to cruise to a 6-2 win. They lead the OHL Western Conference Finals 2-0, with the series shifting to Kitchener for Game 3 tonight.
• On this date in 1992, Jeremy Roenick scored both goals in a 2-1 win over the Blues in Game 6 of the Norris Division Semifinals. Ed Belfour made 38 saves in the series-clinching win.
• Two years later, the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Blackhawks 1-0 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the last NHL game played at Chicago Stadium. Hall of Famer Mike Gartner scored the final goal at the original Madhouse on Madison.

IceHogs Chirps

• The schedule for the Central Division Semifinals between the Rockford IceHogs and Milwaukee Admirals is set. We’ll have a full series preview later this week, and we’ll be at most of the games of this series.

NHL Chirps

• On Saturday morning, ESPN’s John Buccigross sent a somewhat cryptic Tweet about Joel Quenneville and the Anaheim Ducks. Later in the day, Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported that Quenneville interviewed for the Ducks’ head coaching position. He called the former Blackhawks coach a “strong candidate,” but it is still early in the process, and more interviews are to come.
• The Carolina Hurricanes took a 3-1 stranglehold on their series with the New Jersey Devils after a 5-2 win in Game 4. Evgeni Svechnikov was the offensive hero, scoring his second career postseason hat trick. However, the biggest storyline on Sunday afternoon was the injury to Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen, who left the game in the second period after being run into by Devils forward Timo Meier. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour said Andersen will be evaluated when the team returns home. Fortunately, the Hurricanes have plenty of experience playing without their top netminder.

• The Blues and Jets are heading back to Winnipeg tied at 2-2 after St. Louis’ 5-1 Game 4 victory. Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck was pulled for the second straight game after allowing five goals on 18 shots. While he’s been the best goaltender in the NHL during the regular season, Hellebuyck is 3-10, with an .863 save percentage and 4.53 goals-against average in his last 13 playoff starts.

• The Washington Capitals scored four third-period goals to beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 in Game 4. After Brandon Duhaime tied the game early in the final frame, Andrew Mangiapane scored the game-winning goal with less than four minutes to play. The Capitals added two late empty-netters to pull away. They can wrap up the series on home ice on Wednesday night.

• The Edmonton Oilers used more third-period magic to beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in overtime to even up their series 2-2. Evan Bouchard scored twice in the third period, including tying the game with 29 seconds left. Leon Draisaitl won the game with a power-play goal in overtime, his first career overtime playoff goal. The Kings entered the third period with a 3-1 lead and were outshot 33-13 during the final frame and overtime. Playing a prevent defense prevents you from winning.

• Tonight’s schedule features two big games. At 6 pm, the Florida Panthers host the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of their series. Then, the Dallas Stars host the Colorado Avalanche at 8:30 pm to break their 2-2 series tie.