NEWSLETTER
Just when you thought we were about to separate the contenders from the pretenders in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a number of series are turning back to a more even balance that could/will extend the second round. I’m all for it, honestly. Give us as much Playoff Hockey as you’ve got … we really could use it right now.
• The Montreal Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights came away winners last night in their respective Stanley Cup Playoffs matchups. For Vegas, the win was a much needed turning of the tides in the series against the Colorado Avalanche, who were looking like they were poised to cut right through the Golden Knights.
• Of course, what would be a good night in the Golden Knights-Avalanche series without a former Blackhawks player showing up right?
https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1401019819638640642?s=20
• Yes that is long-time Blackhawks legend Carl Söderberg with his first goal of the postseason to tie the game 1-1 for Colorado last night. You’ll remember back to the NHL Trade Deadline where the Blackhawks sent Söderberg to the Avalanche in exchange for Josh Dickinson and prospect Ryder Rolston.
• I’m just happy for Carl.
Carl Soderberg (35 years, 235 days) is the oldest player to score a playoff goal for the @Avalanche since Joe Sakic (38 years, 282 days) in Game 3 of the 2008 Conference Quarterfinals. #StanleyCup#NHLStats: https://t.co/ouMWBi9Xrx pic.twitter.com/rXaB9tuKaz
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 5, 2021
• Söderberg, along with Brandon Saad, look like they will have the inside track to getting to the final four of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with Colorado. But not before the Golden Knights have something to say about it.
• Trailing 2-1 late into the third period, Vegas was starring down an 0-3 series hole that only four teams have ever come back from in NHL history. Then…
https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1401037606662684672?s=20
• Jonathan Marchessault and Max Pacioretty score 45 seconds apart to give Vegas the 3-2 lead and they would hold on for the Game Three win at home. With the victory, the Golden Knights cut Colorado’s series lead to 2-1. Hey, it’s no 17 seconds, but 45 seconds is still pretty good.
• In the early game last night, the Montreal Canadiens did just enough to get by the Winnipeg Jets in a 1-0 game to take a 2-0 series lead. Tyler Toffoli scored the games only goal for the Canadiens and goaltender Carey Price did the rest. Making all 30 saves he was asked to make, Price earned his eighth career postseason shutout and continues to be the rock for Montreal in this postseason.
https://twitter.com/NHLonNBCSports/status/1401025930433290247?s=20
• Winnipeg is without Mark Scheifele until at least Game Six, if it gets that far, and it was evident last night that their offense will be missing him in the series.
• With the shutout, Price moves into second-place all-time for Canadiens goalies with eight postseason shutouts. He tries Ken Dryden and Jacques Plante for the franchise lead, both with 10 career postseason shutouts with Montreal.
Carey Price of the @CanadiensMTL pocketed the eighth playoff shutout of his NHL career and owns the fourth-most among active goaltenders behind Marc-Andre Fleury (16), Henrik Lundqvist (10) and Jonathan Quick (9). #StanleyCup#NHLStats: https://t.co/ouMWBi9Xrx pic.twitter.com/4aKSOJ4GTD
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 5, 2021
• After coming back from being down 3-1 in the first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Canadiens are having one of their best stretches of hockey in recent years, at the perfect time.
This is the #habs first five-game winning streak since Nov. 25-Dec. 2, 2017.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 5, 2021
• Speaking of the Maple Leafs, in case you missed it yesterday, it feels like the Chicago Blackhawks could find at least one piece to their puzzle of getting back to playoff contention from the Maple Leafs roster, which is about to suffer a salary cap casualty or two or three.
• While the Blackhawks are focusing on their offseason plans, the IIHF World Championships continue today in the Semifinal stage. Five Blackhawks players and prospects have a chance to move on to the Gold Medal game on Sunday.
https://twitter.com/BN_Blackhawks/status/1401131688709791744?s=20
• None of the players still active have won a medal at the World Championships before, so this is all very exciting just to have them reach this stage.
• In the early morning action, we’ve already seen Brandon Pirri get the Canadians on the board first with his second goal of the tournament.
Brandon Pirri gets the Canadians on the board first!#IIHFWorlds #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/87LdNOHyQv
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) June 5, 2021
• We’ll keep updated on the Bleacher Nation Blackhawks Twitter page as the games continue today!
• We’ve been filling you in with a couple of NHL Mock Drafts over the past few days since the Blackhawks secured the 11th overall pick. Today’s coming from our friends at Future Considerations Hockey, addressing the Blackhawks need in net…
Oops we did it again. https://t.co/MxT2m7BtYd
— FCHockey (@FCHockey) June 4, 2021
• Can’t say I would complain about that pick. Chicago is in a spot where they have needs across the board and getting a player like that at 11, not bad at all.
• A Happy Blackhawks Birthday to two-time Stanley Cup Champion Dave Bolland!
A Happy 35th Birthday to 2-time #StanleyCup Champion Dave Bolland! #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/BqWCKKLRVE
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) June 5, 2021
• There were no Stanley Cup Playoffs for Chicago this season and the AHL had no Calder Cup Playoffs, even though the Rockford IceHogs wouldn’t have made them anyway. But the Blackhawks’ ECHL affiliate Indy Fuel are heading to the postseason, securing a spot in the Kelly Cup Playoffs this season in historic fashion.
Indy takes the 3-1 win and sets a franchise record for wins in a season! pic.twitter.com/qSD1nSRNc8
— x – Indy Fuel (@IndyFuel) June 5, 2021
• Indy will be taking on the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in the first round of the postseason, which is a best-of-five series.
We're goin' rabbit huntin' for Round 1! pic.twitter.com/v2Ia0fbUb9
— x – Indy Fuel (@IndyFuel) June 4, 2021
• Good luck to the Fuel as they search for their first Kelly Cup in franchise history.
• That will do it for today. A reminder(!) send us your Blackhawks questions for our Monday Mailbag this week using the hashtag #BNHawksMailbag on Twitter or emailing them to Mario.Tirabassi at bleachernation dot com. Can’t wait to see what is on everyone’s mind as the Stanley Cup Playoff continue and the NHL Draft, Seattle Expansion Draft, and Free Agency are all ahead of us! Have yourselves a great Saturday!
