As a result of the Hurricanes having their way all over the ice en route to a 5-2 victory, the Blackhawks are now mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with 4 games remaining.
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Starting Lineup
The starting lineup with Pius Suter in for Brett Connolly and Nicolas Beaudin in for Riley Stillman while Collin Delia backed up Malcolm Subban:
#Blackhawks projected lineup vs. Hurricanes:
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) May 3, 2021
Kurashev-Suter-Kane
DeBrincat-Dach-Kubalik
Hinostroza-Strome-Gaudette
Hardman-Kampf-Hagel
Kalynuk-Murphy
Keith-Mitchell
Zadorov-Beaudin
Subban
Delia
Here we go, boys!@budlight | #CHIvsCAR pic.twitter.com/gJKNOx4PZn
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) May 3, 2021
Scoring Recap
1st Goal: Hamilton (0-1)
Typically don't shoot from there
— x - Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 3, 2021
Dougie's playing chess while everyone else plays checkers pic.twitter.com/8wZ2sFkq7v
2nd Goal: Necas (0-2)
Pucks
— x - Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 3, 2021
On
Net
PON pic.twitter.com/j6Pf0HKWwJ
3rd Goal: Aho (0-3)
All about that Seabass pic.twitter.com/xB1WIu2MBN
— x - Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 4, 2021
4th Goal: Aho (0-4) PP
Fishy is so good he doesn't even have to move to score pic.twitter.com/upOHJibESW
— x - Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 4, 2021
5th Goal: Mitchell (1-4)
Mitchell blasts one past Nedeljkovic for a goal in his return to the lineup, and Kubalik and Strome sure earn those assists 💪@NBCSChicago | #CHIvsCAR pic.twitter.com/2niqKSSjbE
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) May 4, 2021
6th Goal: DeBrincat (2-4)
(No video available)
Once he recovered a rebound off of Delia, Kubalik connected with Alex DeBrincat with a stretch pass to the left boards in the neutral zone. DeBrincat then turnstiled Brady Skjei before swooping in with speed to tuck in a shot from in close.
7th Goal: Aho (2-5) EN
Seabass put the cap on this one! pic.twitter.com/py1L4rwVIE
— x - Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 4, 2021
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Game Notes
FINAL: Hurricanes 5, #Blackhawks 2
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) May 4, 2021
Shot attempts: 71-41 CAR
Shots on goal: 38-18 CAR
5-on-5 scoring chances: 30-13 CAR
5-on-5 high danger chances: 20-6 CAR pic.twitter.com/RMeay5UWLf
Player Notes
Collin Delia
After getting shelled for 4 goals on 18 shots, Subban was pulled halfway through the game which gave Delia his first game action since January 17. Delia was a perfect 19 for 19 on saves.
Nikita Zadorov
Coming in 2nd on TOI behind Duncan Keith who logged 24:23 was Nikita Zadorov with 22:48. Zadorov was also surprisingly the only Chicago player at +2 and had 3 shot blocks to lead the team.
Wyatt Kalynuk
Kalynuk was tied for a team-worst -3 which was misleading in that the goals against while he was on the ice weren't for a lack of effort or for errors on his part. His teammates didn't play their part to help.
Kirby Dach
The other Chicago player who was -3 was Dach. Not horrible in his end but he could stand to exhibit more pace to catch up to plays that turnover abruptly and cover opponents in high danger areas.
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Rockford Updates
Starting Lineup
Projected Lines: Wrappin' this season series with a bang!
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) May 3, 2021
Puck drops in 25-ish minutes vs. @griffinshockey. Tune in! pic.twitter.com/HZzvA732pD
1st Goal: Barratt (1-0)
Evan Barratt dumped the puck to the end boards where Andrei Altybarmakian and Chad Yetman both went in to battle for possession against 3 defenders before throwing a centering feed to the slot for Barratt to bang home.
2nd Goal: Yetman (2-0)
The same Hogs trio teamed up again on a goal on a series of passes to catch the trailer as Barratt first spotted Altybarmakian then Altybarmakian left a drop pass for Yetman to wire a wrister into the back of the twine.
3rd Goal: Pearson (2-1)
The Griffins got on the board with a swift breakout from their own end on quick feeds to move the puck up ice including a short stretch pass to spring Chase Pearson from the center line on a breakaway where he beat Matt Tomkins above the glove.
4th Goal: Pearson (2-2) PP
While on the power play, Taro Hirose received a drop pass at his offensive blueline then cut to the middle and took a shot to draw all eyes on him which allowed Pearson to get to an opening and bury the rebound that Tomkins initially blocked.
Shootout: Soderlund (3-2)
Griffins
* Turgeon (miss) * Barber (goal) * Pearson (miss)
IceHogs
* Soderlund (goal) * Franson (goal)
TIMMY! A little razzle-dazzle from Timmy Soderlund in the shootout! pic.twitter.com/RUtgqqNgfJ
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) May 4, 2021
As an example of Isaak Phillips starting to play more and more with authority at both ends is his ability on a dump and chase to use his big frame to plow through the defense to retrieve the puck.
Nobody gets more excited when teammates score than Altybarmakian. Even if he never touches the puck, the exuberance he shows to help his team celebrate goals is fun to watch. This kid is a selfless warrior.
If Soderlund can channel his freneticism into consistent productivity, he could prove to be a high-energy cog on the forecheck and penalty kill for the Blackhawks similar to Brandon Hagel.
Dylan McLaughlin and Josiah Slavin peppered the Griffins goalie Kaden Fulcher with 5 shots each while D.J. Busdeker, Matej Chalupa, and Chris Wilkie contributed 4 shots apiece.
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See you on the boards!