Morning Chirps: Nazar Finds the Scoresheet, Panthers Win Wild Game 3

The Rockford IceHogs and Milwaukee Admirals will need a fifth and final game to decide a series winner after the road team won it’s fourth straight game. The IIHF World Championship kicked off on Friday and a member of the Chicago Blackhawks found the scoresheet. Let’s start the weekend off with some Chirps!

Blackhawks Chirps

• Joe Smith of The Athletic talked to University of Denver head coach David Carle about his recent contract extension and why this was not the right time for him to leave for the NHL.
• Staying at The Athletic, Scott Powersgives you updates on the status of the last five Blackhawks draft classes.
• The IIHF World Championship started on Friday, and the United States rolled to a 5-0 win over Denmark in their preliminary round opener. Frank Nazar recorded the secondary assist on Mason Lohrei’s third-period goal and had three shots on goal. Alex Vlasic had two shots on goal in 17:13 of ice time.

• In other World Championship action, Teuvo Teravainen had two shots on goal in Finland’s 2-1 win over Austria. Arvid Soderblom did not dress for Sweden’s 5-0 shutout of Slovakia.
• Pit Martin scored a hat trick on this date in 1973, but it wasn’t enough as the Montreal Canadiens clinched another championship by beating the Blackhawks 6-4 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
• On May 10, 1989, the Blackhawks’ season ended with a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames in Game 5 of the Campbell Conference Finals. Calgary went on to win the Stanley Cup by beating the Canadiens in six games.
• Finally, on this date in 2021, the Blackhawks wrapped up the strange 2020-21 season with a 5-4 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. Alex DeBrincat lit the lamp to become the first player to end the regular season on a seven-game goal streak since John Anderson did it for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1985.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, May 10: Ab DeMarco, Pete Babando, and Randy Cunneyworth.

IceHogs Chirps

• The IceHogs lost 3-2 to the Admirals in Game 4 of the Central Division Semifinals. Interim head coach Mark Eaton was disappointed with the team’s lack of effort in the second period. These two teams will meet back in Milwaukee on Sunday at 4 p.m. CT.
• The Texas Stars await the winner of Sunday’s tilt. They completed their three-game sweep of the Grand Rapids Griffins with a 5-4 win in double overtime after trailing 4-1 heading into the third period.

NHL Chirps

• Cayden Lindstrom made his season debut for the Medicine Hat Tigers in Game 1 of the Western Hockey League Finals. He picked up a secondary assist on the opening goal of the game, as Medicine Hat won 4-1. Lindstrom was the fourth-overall pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets at last year’s NHL Entry Draft. According to a report from Pierre LeBrun, had Lindstrom by drafted third by the Anaheim Ducks, the Blue Jackets would have traded that pick to the Blackhawks.
• Vegas Golden Knights forward Nic Roy was fined $7,812.50, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for his cross-check to the head of Trent Frederic. He was allowed to plead his case in a hearing, and it was ruled that the play was reckless, but there was no intent to injure.
• According to LeBrun, the Kings kicked the tires on agent Pat Brisson’s interest in their general manager job, but the veteran agent declined an interview. He is the agent of 94 NHL players, so why would he take the pay cut to be a general manager?
• The Florida Panthers beat the Maple Leafs 5-4 in overtime to earn their first win of the series. The Panthers scored three straight goals to take a 4-3 lead in the second period before Toronto forced overtime with a late goal off the leg of Seth Jones. Brad Marchand continued his postseason dominance of the Maple Leafs by scoring the game-winning goal. Florida can even the series with a Game 4 win on Sunday.

• The Winnipeg Jets evened their series at 1-1 by beating the Stars 4-0 last night. Nikolaj Ehlers, a potential free agent target of the Blackhawks this summer, scored his first two goals of the postseason. Connor Helllebuyck made 21 saves for his fourth career playoff shutout.