It’s Sunday, so I’m going to open this morning with massive props for a guy who covers as many winter sports in Chicago as we do — except he does it in the booth. Miguel Esparza called the Bulls game on Friday night, the Blackhawks on Saturday, and will call both the Bears and Blackhawks on Sunday before returning to the Bulls on Monday. He handles the Spanish radio broadcasts of the games and is absolutely marvelous. published a fabulous profile of Miguel this weekend that you should definitely check out.
Last night during the first period, the Blackhawks unveiled a new statue in the United Center. It isn’t a bust of a former player (those are coming, I’m sure). It’s… a bronze folding chair. Behind section 119. That bronze seat pays homage to Rocky Wirtz and sits where he sat — his favorite spot to watch his team play. The team also announced a program in which fans can be nominated to sit in — the four seats immediately next to the bronze chair. You can nominate yourself or the best Blackhawks fan in your life.
Philipp Kurashev has been really good since he joined the lineup after an injury delayed the start of his regular season. After putting up a disappointing 25 points in 70 games last year, he already has four point in four games this season and looks like a much more confident player. Maybe getting a two-year commitment from the organization (albeit via arbitration, but the team chose the term) makes him feel more comfortable as an NHL player, maybe he’s just found a maturity on the ice. Or maybe, just maybe, playing with players the caliber of Connor Bedard and Nick Foligno has helped him produce more?
Bedard’s name is now linked to Jonathan Toews in the Blackhawks’ record books. Not bad, kid.
I would argue last night was Lukas Reichel‘s best game of the season. And head coach Luke Richardson agreed after the game. It wasn’t as much about Reichel picking up his first point of the season with an assist on Nikita Zaitsev‘s first-period goal but more about his complete game. He battled in all three zones and flashed confidence with the puck.
Oh, by the way, Kevin Korchinski played his tenth NHL game last night. So did Connor Bedard. So bye bye Year One of their respective entry-level contracts. For Korchinski, it also sounds like bye bye any chance of joining Hockey Canada for the World Juniors in a couple months. Head coach Luke Richardson was asked about Korchinski possibly going to the tournament and was emphatic that he’s a Chicago Blackhawk and an important part of the team so he’ll be with the NHL club for the duration. And he should be. He’s a stud and the Blackhawks need him.
Even with the great result last night, I thought Seth Jones had a bad game. There were a number of times that he just straight up didn’t play a puck that turned into either a turnover or a near turnover and he got outworked on too many occasions, including Matthew Tkachuk’s goal. The data seems to support the eye test that he had a rough night.
We’ll have to wait and see if Jack Hughes is available for the Devils tonight. He crashed into the boards during the first period of their game in St. Louis on Friday night and left the ice. Devils head coach Lindy Ruff won’t talk to the media until around 4 PM CT today and there isn’t a morning skate for New Jersey so we’re going to be TBD on the league’s leading scorer until closer to game time. The Devils did recall forward Max Willman on Saturday, however.
The IceHogs picked up a nice road win yesterday afternoon. Congrats to Nolan Allan for this helper, giving him his first professional point.
Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth skated to a 3-3 tie last night. Oliver Moore won 7 of 16 faceoffs in the game and Sam Rinzel was credited with two assists and six shots on net in the game.
Frank Nazar won 7 of 15 faceoffs and picked up the assist on Michigan’s only goal on Saturday night. Wisconsin followed their sweep of Minnesota with a sweep of Michigan… meaning the Badgers just might be the best team in the country. They’re on a legit heater right now.
Gavin Hayes extended his point streak to 11 games with an assist in the first period for Flint last night. He then scored two power play goals, the first of which wound up being the game-winner, in a 5-1 Firebirds win. Hayes now has 10 goals and five assists in 13 games this season.
Finally, the Bears are spending money and making moves. But… can they keep one of their young corners after paying their newly-acquired defensive end?
