Morning Chirps: Rough Day at the Worlds, Two Division Champs Facing Elimination

Monday was not a great day for the Chicago Blackhawks playing overseas at the World Championship. It wasn’t a good night for two division champions in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, who are now down 3-1 and facing elimination. Let’s start the day off with some Chirps!

Blackhawks Chirps

• We started our Blackhawks Draft Profiles series yesterday by looking at Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
• Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN reminds us that Kyle Davidson is seeking a head coach who can develop young talent.
• In IIHF World Championship action, Switzerland pulled off a massive upset by shutting out the United States 3-0. Alex Vlasic had two shots on goal and was a minus-1. Frank Nazar had no shots on goal and was on the ice for two goals against. Teuvo Teravainen had two shots on goal in Finland’s 2-1 loss to Sweden. Arvid Soderblom has yet to dress for Sweden.
• On this date in 1971, the Blackhawks beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-0 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Bobby Hull set a new franchise scoring record for a single playoff by picking up his 22^nd point with an assist on Dennis Hull’s goal. Tony Esposito made 31 saves to record his second shutout of the series.
• On May 12, 1995, Murray Craven had a goal and an assist in the Blackhawks’ 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
• One year later, the Blackhawks’ season ended with a 4-3 double overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Denis Savard, Bernie Nicholls, and Joe Murphy scored in regulation before Sandis Ozolinsh notched the series-clinching goal.
• On May 12, 2014, the Blackhawks eliminated the Minnesota Wild with a 2-1 overtime win in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Patrick Kane scored the series-clinching goal in extra time. Corey Crawford made 34 saves and allowed five total goals in the four wins during the series.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, May 12: Babe Dye, Jamie Allison, and Kirs Versteeg.

NHL Chirps

• Maple Leafs forward Max Domi was fined $5,000 by the NHL Department of Player Safety for his hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov as time expired in Game 3. According to Florida Hockey Now, the hit has angered the Panthers, and they won’t forget it in Game 5.

• Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the Los Angeles Kings are closing in on hiring Ken Holland as their next general manager.
• Per Arthur Staple of The Athletic, the New York Islanders are expected to interview Jarmo Kekalainen for their vacant general manager position. Meanwhile, Russ Macias of NYI Hockey Now tries to make sense of the Islanders’ executive search.
• The Carolina Hurricanes grabbed a 3-1 series lead by beating the Washington Capitals 5-2 last night. Former Blackhawk Taylor Hall scored the eventual game-winning goal midway through the third period. He has two goals and six points in nine postseason games for Carolina.

• The Edmonton Oilers are one win away from the Western Conference Finals after a 3-0 Game 4 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. The embattled Stuart Skinner stopped all 23 shots he faced to earn his first victory of the postseason. Adam Henrique scored the first two Oilers goals for his first multi-goal playoff game since 2012.