Blackhawks on the Move
The Chicago Blackhawks are gearing up for a busy stretch, with practice sessions this morning before they jet off to face the Utah Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights. Meanwhile, fans will have their eyes on Sacha Boisvert and Boston University as they battle in a crucial Hockey East Tournament game. The Rockford IceHogs are also hitting the ice against the Milwaukee Admirals.
Blackhawks Buzz
Yesterday's CHGO Blackhawks Podcast was a must-listen, with Jay Zawaski and I diving into predictions for next season’s roster. We tackled questions about prospects like Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore, and you won't want to miss today’s session at 3 PM featuring a special guest.
Anton Frondell continues to impress in the SHL, notching his third goal in four games. With 18 goals and 25 points in 41 games, he's drawing comparisons to Leo Carlsson, who had similar numbers at the same age. We'll be watching Frondell closely as his postseason run kicks off next week, eager to see when he might make his debut in Chicago.
On this date in 1987, Denis Savard etched his name in Blackhawks history, becoming the sixth player to score 250 goals for the team, despite a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Fast forward three years, and Savard added another milestone by joining the NHL's 1,000-point club with an assist in a 6-4 victory over the Blues.
In 1994, a pivotal trade saw the Blackhawks acquire Gary Suter, Randy Cunneyworth, and a draft pick in exchange for Frantisek Kucera and Jocelyn Lemieux. Suter, paired often with Hall of Famer Chris Chelios, made a significant impact in Chicago.
March 11 remained a memorable date for Savard in 1996, as he notched two goals and an assist in an 8-4 win over the Florida Panthers, becoming the 15th player in NHL history to reach 1,300 points.
In 2000, Alex Zhamnov celebrated his 300th career assist in a 5-3 win over the Panthers, while Bob Probert joined an exclusive club with 3,000 penalty minutes.
Patrick Kane's two-goal performance in a 6-2 win against the San Jose Sharks in 2020 was overshadowed by the NHL's suspension of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the last game at the United Center for goaltender Corey Crawford.
NHL Highlights
The Florida Panthers edged out the Red Wings 4-3, a result that helps the Blackhawks' draft prospects. Detroit's loss drops them out of third in the Atlantic Division, further complicated by Andrew Copp's exit due to a lower-body injury.
The Utah Mammoth, still smarting from a recent loss to the Blackhawks, were blanked 5-0 by the Minnesota Wild. Nick Foligno made his mark with an assist on Ryan Hartman’s goal.
The Edmonton Oilers are getting a full taste of Colton Dach's potential. After an impactful debut, Dach left last night’s game against the Avalanche with an injury, adding to the team's concerns.
In the same game, Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche was ejected for a collision with goaltender Connor Ingram, who did not return.
The Carolina Hurricanes had a scare with Nikolaj Ehlers after a collision with Erik Karlsson, but he returned for the second period, much to the relief of fans.
Brayden Schenn received a warm welcome back in St. Louis, but it was his assist on the game-winning goal for the Islanders that stole the show, capping a comeback from a 3-0 deficit to a 4-3 overtime victory.
Celebrating NHL Birthdays
Today we celebrate the birthdays of notable NHL figures including Sprague Cleghorn, Bill Eznicki, Bob Plager, Martin Rucinsky, Paul Bissonnette, and current stars like Conor Garland and Travis Konecny.