The Chicago Blackhawks are gearing up for a challenging road trip, facing off against three teams with playoff aspirations. It all kicks off tonight against the Edmonton Oilers. Stay tuned for an in-depth preview later today.
Blackhawks Updates
The Blackhawks hit the ice for a full team practice for the first time since mid-March. The session provided valuable insights, including the latest on a promising prospect making the leap to the pro ranks.
Jeremiah Lee has high praise for Anton Frondell, whether he's donning number 15 or 16, playing wing or center. Frondell's versatility and skill make him a standout addition.
The Rockford IceHogs had a tough outing, falling 5-0 to the Grand Rapids Griffins. After a scoreless first 44 minutes, the Griffins exploded with four goals in the third period. Former Blackhawks defenseman Erik Gustafsson contributed two assists.
Roman Kantserov and Metallurg Magnitogorsk advanced to the second round after a 1-0 victory over Sibir Novosibirsk, with Kantserov tallying two goals and four points in the series. Next up, they face Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.
On this day in 1967, Stan Mikita notched two assists in an 8-0 victory over the New York Rangers, tying Bobby Hull’s NHL record for most points in a season. Fast forward to 1972, Hull scored his 50th goal of the season against the Detroit Red Wings, marking his fifth 50-goal season-a historic milestone before he joined the Winnipeg Jets.
Birthday shoutout to Rem Pitlick!
Around the NHL
Check out Jeff Maroon's NHL Power Rankings released on Wednesday for the latest league insights.
The San Jose Sharks are making waves with late-game heroics. Alexander Wennberg’s last-minute goal sealed a win against the Anaheim Ducks.
This follows Adam Gaudette’s game-winner against the same team and Igor Chernyshov’s clutch goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Sharks are just one point shy of the Los Angeles Kings for a wild card spot.
Macklin Celebrini had a stellar four-point performance against the Ducks, including his 40th goal of the season. With 105 points, he's on the heels of Joe Thornton’s franchise record of 114 points set in 2006-07.
Nathan MacKinnon reached the 50-goal mark in an 8-6 thriller against the Vancouver Canucks, becoming the first player this season to do so. He joins the ranks of Michel Goulet and Joe Sakic with multiple 50-goal seasons for the Avalanche/Nordiques.
The Minnesota Wild will have to wait a bit longer to secure their playoff berth, as the Ducks and Kings didn’t deliver the needed results. The chase continues for that coveted playoff spot.