Morning Chirps: Frank Nazar Keeps Scoring, Second Round Set

The NHL Draft Lottery is tonight, so in less than 12 hours, we’ll know where the Chicago Blackhawks will select in the first round. The Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is all set, and the first game is tonight. Let’s start your work week off with a fresh batch of Chirps.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Speaking of the Draft Lottery, Scott Powers of The Athletic has everything you need to know about the proceedings. I’ll be on the CHGO Blackhawks live podcast while the results are revealed, so tune in if you can.
• Team USA beat Germany 5-2 in a tune-up game for the World Championships, with Frank Nazar scoring twice. The United States will open the tournament against Denmark on May 9.

• On this date in 2010, Dustin Byfuglien netted a hat trick to lead the Blackhawks to a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Byfuglien’s performance was the first road playoff hat trick since Bobby Hull in 1972.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call: Jim Conacher, Florent Robidoux, Mike Stapleton, and  Pavel Vorobiev

NHL Chirps

• According to Rob Rossi of The Athletic, Team Canada is getting two massive additions to its World Championship roster. Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche are going to Europe for the tournament.
• Kirill Kaprizov hinted to Joe Smith of The Athletic that he is interested in signing an extension with the Minnesota Wild this summer. He could possibly command a record contract if he hits the open market next summer, so we’ll see how eager he is to get a deal done after July 1.
• Per Taylor Baird of NHL.com, Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer expects forward Jason Robertson and defenseman Miro Heiskanen to return from injury at some point during the Second Round.
• The Winnipeg Jets advanced to the Second Round after beating the St. Louis Blues 4-3 in double overtime. The Jets scored two 6v5 goals in the final 1:56 of regulation to force overtime, including Cole Perfetti evening up the score with only 2.2 seconds left. Captain Adam Lowry scored the series-clinching goal 16:10 into the second overtime. Winnipeg won the game without star forward Mark Scheifele and defenseman Josh Morrissey, who played only 2:09 after taking a high hit from Oscar Sundqvist.

• The Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs starts tonight with the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the Florida Panthers. The full schedule can be seen below.