The St. Louis Blues only have to look back to last year's playoffs, if they are feeling a sense of déjà vu.
In the 2013 playoffs, the Blues faced the Los Angeles Kings, the defending champions, in the first round. The Blues had home ice advantage and took a 2-0 series lead. The Kings then won the next three games to take a 3-2 series lead, and eventually won the series in six games.
This year the Blues are playing the Chicago Blackhawks, the defending champions, in the first round. The Blues again took a 2-0 series lead but the Blackhawks have won the last three games to take the 3-2 series lead. The Blackhawks have a chance to finish off the Blues in six games, just like the Kings did last season. The only difference this season is that Ryan Miller is in goal for the Blues and not Brian Elliott.
Those are just a few similarities between the two series. The Blues won game one against the Kings last year on a shorthanded goal by Alexander Steen in overtime and took the 1-0 series lead. Alexander Steen also scored the game winning goal against the Blackhawks. This time it was in the third overtime and again gave the Blues the 1-0 series lead.
In game two last season, Barrett Jackman scored a late goal against the Kings in regulation to give the Blues the 2-0 series lead. This season Vladimir Tarasenko score with just 6.4 seconds left on a power play with the goalie pulled. Barrett Jackman scored in overtime to give the Blues a 2-0 series lead over the Blackhawks.
Jonathan Quick and the Kings got the 1-0 shutout in game three last year, while the Blackhawks and Corey Crawford got the 2-0 shutout this season in game three. In game three against the Kings, the Blues power play didn't score in four opportunities. In game three against the Blackhawks this year, the Blues power play had no goals in three chances.
The Kings came back and won game four in overtime by a score of 4-3 in the playoffs last year. This year Chicago also won game four by a score of 4-3 in overtime. The Blues have blown a 2-0 series lead the past two seasons. In the past two years, the series were tied at two games apiece going back to St. Louis for a pivotal game five.
In game five against the Kings, the Blues tied the game at two on a goal by Alex Pietrangelo. In overtime, Slava Voynov scored for the Kings and gave them the 3-2 series lead. In game five against the Blackhawks, Alex Pietrangelo score the game tying goal again to force overtime. This time Blackhawks captain, Jonathan Toews, scored the game winning goal to give the Blackhawks the 3-2 series lead.
The Kings went on to win the series against the Blues last season in six games. The Blackhawks have the series lead going back home and into game six.
Will history repeat itself for the Blues? They will have to wait until Sunday and game six to find out.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Pens Defeat Blue Jackets to Take Series Lead
The Pittsburgh Penguins came back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. It was the Blue Jackets first home playoff game in almost five years.
The Blue Jackets jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the first 3:18 of the game. Boone Jenner got the Blue Jackets on the board first. Jack Skille took the shot from the boards and Marc-Andre Fleury made the save, but the rebound went right to Jenner, who put the puck in the back of the net.
Brandon Dubinsky kept control of the puck behind the net and managed to get a shot off from the corner. Fleury gave up another rebound and this time Jack Johnson put it in the net for a 2-0 Blue Jackets lead. The Blue Jackets were out shot 16-7 in the first period.
The Penguins started to play better in the second period. They started to get more offensive zone pressure and Fleury was making the saves that needed to be made to keep his team in the game. The Penguins work paid off with only 1.7 second left in the period. The Blue Jackets tried to clear the zone but Paul Martin kept it in at the blue line for the Penguins. Martin got the puck down low to Beau Bennett, and he got the puck over to Brooks Orpik in the slot. Orpik made a nice move around a sliding Cam Atkinson and wristed the puck past Sergei Bobrovsky.
At the end of the second period, the Blue Jackets had the lead 2-1. The Blue Jackets had a little bit of luck on their side for the third goal. Bobrovsky made a save and the rebound went right to Matt Calvert, who got the puck ahead to Dubinsky. Dubinsky made a nice move around Penguins defenseman, Kris Letang, took the shot and the puck went off of Cam Atkinson and behind Fleury. The Blue Jackets took a 3-1 lead in the third period.
The turning point of the game was when Brandon Sutter scored a goal for the Penguins and made it 3-2. Bennett got the puck back to Martin at the point and he got the shot to the net with plenty of traffic in front of Bobrovksy. Sutter got his stick on the puck and deflected it past Bobrovsky.
Then just 1:10 later the Penguins even up the game at 3-3. Chris Kunitz got the puck over to Lee Stempniak, who wristed the puck past Bobrovsky. The Penguins had two goals on two consecutive shots. Jussi Jokinen scored the evetual game winner on a deflection. Evgeni Malkin got the puck back to Olli Maata at the point. Maata took the shot and it was deflected out high by Jokinen and then off of Blue Jackets player, James Wisniewski, and behind Bobrovsky.
In game one, the Blue Jackets had a 3-1 lead but the Penguins came back to win that game 4-3. In game two, the Penguins were the team that blew a 3-1 lead and the Blue Jackets won in double overtime by a score of 4-3. It looks like the teams won't want to take a 3-1 lead or they'll wind up losing the game.
The Blue Jackets were out shot 41-20 in the game and 15-5 in the third period. A team can't expect to win a game when they get out shot that badly in the third period.
The series continues on Wednesday in Columbus at 7:00 ET on NBCSN.
The Blue Jackets jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the first 3:18 of the game. Boone Jenner got the Blue Jackets on the board first. Jack Skille took the shot from the boards and Marc-Andre Fleury made the save, but the rebound went right to Jenner, who put the puck in the back of the net.
Brandon Dubinsky kept control of the puck behind the net and managed to get a shot off from the corner. Fleury gave up another rebound and this time Jack Johnson put it in the net for a 2-0 Blue Jackets lead. The Blue Jackets were out shot 16-7 in the first period.
The Penguins started to play better in the second period. They started to get more offensive zone pressure and Fleury was making the saves that needed to be made to keep his team in the game. The Penguins work paid off with only 1.7 second left in the period. The Blue Jackets tried to clear the zone but Paul Martin kept it in at the blue line for the Penguins. Martin got the puck down low to Beau Bennett, and he got the puck over to Brooks Orpik in the slot. Orpik made a nice move around a sliding Cam Atkinson and wristed the puck past Sergei Bobrovsky.
At the end of the second period, the Blue Jackets had the lead 2-1. The Blue Jackets had a little bit of luck on their side for the third goal. Bobrovsky made a save and the rebound went right to Matt Calvert, who got the puck ahead to Dubinsky. Dubinsky made a nice move around Penguins defenseman, Kris Letang, took the shot and the puck went off of Cam Atkinson and behind Fleury. The Blue Jackets took a 3-1 lead in the third period.
The turning point of the game was when Brandon Sutter scored a goal for the Penguins and made it 3-2. Bennett got the puck back to Martin at the point and he got the shot to the net with plenty of traffic in front of Bobrovksy. Sutter got his stick on the puck and deflected it past Bobrovsky.
Then just 1:10 later the Penguins even up the game at 3-3. Chris Kunitz got the puck over to Lee Stempniak, who wristed the puck past Bobrovsky. The Penguins had two goals on two consecutive shots. Jussi Jokinen scored the evetual game winner on a deflection. Evgeni Malkin got the puck back to Olli Maata at the point. Maata took the shot and it was deflected out high by Jokinen and then off of Blue Jackets player, James Wisniewski, and behind Bobrovsky.
In game one, the Blue Jackets had a 3-1 lead but the Penguins came back to win that game 4-3. In game two, the Penguins were the team that blew a 3-1 lead and the Blue Jackets won in double overtime by a score of 4-3. It looks like the teams won't want to take a 3-1 lead or they'll wind up losing the game.
The Blue Jackets were out shot 41-20 in the game and 15-5 in the third period. A team can't expect to win a game when they get out shot that badly in the third period.
The series continues on Wednesday in Columbus at 7:00 ET on NBCSN.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Philadelphia Flyers Clinch Playoff Berth
The Philadelphia Flyers beat the Florida Panthers to clinch a spot in the playoffs for the 17th time in the last 19 seasons.
Roberto Luongo was supposed to start for the Panthers but was a late scratch due to an upper body injury. The backup goalie, Dan Ellis, got the call and had a decent first period.
The Flyers couldn't get much going offensively until Drew Shore took a 4:00 high sticking call and then Scottie Upshall was called for a hooking minor. The Flyers had a 1:43 of 5-on-3 power play time but couldn't convert. They had opportunities but couldn't put the puck into the back of the net.
The Flyers finally got on the board in the second period. Adam Hall went in on the forecheck and forced the Florida defenseman to turn the puck over. Hall got a shot off and the rebound bounced to Vinny Lecavalier, who put the puck into the back of the net with traffic in front. It was Lecavalier's 20th goal of the season. The Flyers have seven players that have scored 20 or more goals this season, which leads the NHL. It was Lecavalier's fifth goal in his last seven games.
The Panthers had a prime scoring chance after Luke Schenn turned the puck over in his own zone. A shot got through from the point and Tomas Fleischmann was there to get the rebound but Steve Mason did the splits and pinned the puck along the post for the save.
Nicklas Grossmann made a nice pass out of his own zone to Claude Giroux, who skated into the Panthers zone, using Ed Jovanovski as a screen and blasted one past Ellis for his 26th goal on the season. The Flyers took a 2-0 lead.
At 8:50 of the second period, Scott Hartnell got the puck into the Panthers zone and Mark Streit went and got it along the boards. Streit made a nice pass to Giroux in the slot and Giroux fired it past Ellis for his 27th goal of the season, and gave the Flyers a 3-0 lead. The Orange and Black had three goals and only five shots on goal.
The final goal of the period come from Sean Couturier, who broke a 17-game scoreless streak. Matt. Read got the puck over to Couturier and he made a nice play along the boards to got the puck to the point. Braydon Coburn took the shot and it bounced right to Couturier, who scored his eleventh goal of the season.
The Flyers scored four goals on just 12 shots in the second period.
The Flyers came out slow to start the third period and the Panthers took advantage of it. The Flyers turned the puck over in their own zone, which led to offensive zone pressure and an eventual goal by Erik Gudbranson. Gudbranson took the shot from the point and the puck found its way past Mason with traffic in front.
Jonathan Huberdeau scored the second goal of the game for the Panthers after the puck went off of Streit's stick and past Mason. It was Huberdeau's first game back after missing 11 games due to a concussion.
The third period has not been a good period for the Flyers their last four games. They have been out scored 8-2 in the last four third periods played. They were fortunate the Panthers only scored two goals in the third period after their own sloppy play.
Tye McGinn scored the insurance goal for the Flyers late in the third period. Hall won the face-off and Lecavalier got the loose puck and made a nice pass over to McGinn. He tipped it past Ellis for the fifth and final goal of the night.
Roberto Luongo was supposed to start for the Panthers but was a late scratch due to an upper body injury. The backup goalie, Dan Ellis, got the call and had a decent first period.
The Flyers couldn't get much going offensively until Drew Shore took a 4:00 high sticking call and then Scottie Upshall was called for a hooking minor. The Flyers had a 1:43 of 5-on-3 power play time but couldn't convert. They had opportunities but couldn't put the puck into the back of the net.
The Flyers finally got on the board in the second period. Adam Hall went in on the forecheck and forced the Florida defenseman to turn the puck over. Hall got a shot off and the rebound bounced to Vinny Lecavalier, who put the puck into the back of the net with traffic in front. It was Lecavalier's 20th goal of the season. The Flyers have seven players that have scored 20 or more goals this season, which leads the NHL. It was Lecavalier's fifth goal in his last seven games.
The Panthers had a prime scoring chance after Luke Schenn turned the puck over in his own zone. A shot got through from the point and Tomas Fleischmann was there to get the rebound but Steve Mason did the splits and pinned the puck along the post for the save.
Nicklas Grossmann made a nice pass out of his own zone to Claude Giroux, who skated into the Panthers zone, using Ed Jovanovski as a screen and blasted one past Ellis for his 26th goal on the season. The Flyers took a 2-0 lead.
At 8:50 of the second period, Scott Hartnell got the puck into the Panthers zone and Mark Streit went and got it along the boards. Streit made a nice pass to Giroux in the slot and Giroux fired it past Ellis for his 27th goal of the season, and gave the Flyers a 3-0 lead. The Orange and Black had three goals and only five shots on goal.
The final goal of the period come from Sean Couturier, who broke a 17-game scoreless streak. Matt. Read got the puck over to Couturier and he made a nice play along the boards to got the puck to the point. Braydon Coburn took the shot and it bounced right to Couturier, who scored his eleventh goal of the season.
The Flyers scored four goals on just 12 shots in the second period.
The Flyers came out slow to start the third period and the Panthers took advantage of it. The Flyers turned the puck over in their own zone, which led to offensive zone pressure and an eventual goal by Erik Gudbranson. Gudbranson took the shot from the point and the puck found its way past Mason with traffic in front.
Jonathan Huberdeau scored the second goal of the game for the Panthers after the puck went off of Streit's stick and past Mason. It was Huberdeau's first game back after missing 11 games due to a concussion.
The third period has not been a good period for the Flyers their last four games. They have been out scored 8-2 in the last four third periods played. They were fortunate the Panthers only scored two goals in the third period after their own sloppy play.
Tye McGinn scored the insurance goal for the Flyers late in the third period. Hall won the face-off and Lecavalier got the loose puck and made a nice pass over to McGinn. He tipped it past Ellis for the fifth and final goal of the night.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Flyers Use Late Goal to Beat Blackhawks in Overtime
The Philadelphia Flyers next 10 games on the schedule are brutal, but the team started off the stretch with an incredible overtime win.
Claude Giroux scored the game-winning goal with 4.2 seconds left in overtime. Mark Streit started the late rush and gave the puck to Giroux, who skated into the Blackhawks zone. He took the snap shot and beat Antti Raanta over the shoulder.
The Blackhawks came out and took an early 2-0 lead. Brayden Schenn turned the puck over in the offensive zone, and Patrick Sharp pounced on the puck. Sharp skated the puck into the zone and got the puck over to Michal Handzus, who took a shot, but Ray Emery made the save. The rebound came out to Andrew Shaw, who was in front of the net, and he scored to make it 1-0 Blackhawks. The defending champions were 31-1-6 when scoring first.
A 1:22 later, the Blackhawks were at it again in the offensive zone. Jonathan Toews passed the puck to -Duncan Keith and he took a slap shot that skidded past Emery. The goal was Keith's first in 30 games. The other assist on the goal went to Marian Hossa.
The Flyers seemed to settle down after a sloppy start. Emery was playing in his first game since February 27th when he got hurt against the San Jose Sharks. Braydon Coburn rolled the puck behind the Blackhawks net to Scott Hartnell, who tried to make the pass to Giroux. The puck deflected off of the skate of Marcus Kruger and into his own net. The Flyers couldn't capitalize on a couple of power play opportunities.
Then at 16:27 of the period, Hartnell scored his second goal of the game. Matt Read battled for the puck behind the net, Giroux came in for support and passed the puck to Hartnell, who fired it past Raanta to tie the game 2-2.
In the second and third periods each team had its chances, but both Emery and Raanta kept the teams off the board. In the second period, Zac Rinaldo and Sheldon Brookbank dropped the gloves after the gloves after Rinaldo hit Brookbank along the boards.
In the third period, the Flyers had two straight power plays but couldn't convert on either of them. The Blackhawks came into the game 23rd in the league on the penalty kill, but kept the Flyers power play off the board in five chances. Brayden Schenn had two chances to win the game for the Flyers, but couldn't put the puck in the net.
The win was Emery's first since February 8th versus the Calgary Flames because he was out with a groin injury. The win also gave the Flyers some breathing room in the playoff race with the Columbus Blue jackets losing, 3-1, to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Flyers are three points ahead of the Blue Jackets in the standings.
The next game doesn't get any easier for the Flyers as the Dallas Stars come to the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.
Claude Giroux scored the game-winning goal with 4.2 seconds left in overtime. Mark Streit started the late rush and gave the puck to Giroux, who skated into the Blackhawks zone. He took the snap shot and beat Antti Raanta over the shoulder.
The Blackhawks came out and took an early 2-0 lead. Brayden Schenn turned the puck over in the offensive zone, and Patrick Sharp pounced on the puck. Sharp skated the puck into the zone and got the puck over to Michal Handzus, who took a shot, but Ray Emery made the save. The rebound came out to Andrew Shaw, who was in front of the net, and he scored to make it 1-0 Blackhawks. The defending champions were 31-1-6 when scoring first.
A 1:22 later, the Blackhawks were at it again in the offensive zone. Jonathan Toews passed the puck to -Duncan Keith and he took a slap shot that skidded past Emery. The goal was Keith's first in 30 games. The other assist on the goal went to Marian Hossa.
The Flyers seemed to settle down after a sloppy start. Emery was playing in his first game since February 27th when he got hurt against the San Jose Sharks. Braydon Coburn rolled the puck behind the Blackhawks net to Scott Hartnell, who tried to make the pass to Giroux. The puck deflected off of the skate of Marcus Kruger and into his own net. The Flyers couldn't capitalize on a couple of power play opportunities.
Then at 16:27 of the period, Hartnell scored his second goal of the game. Matt Read battled for the puck behind the net, Giroux came in for support and passed the puck to Hartnell, who fired it past Raanta to tie the game 2-2.
In the second and third periods each team had its chances, but both Emery and Raanta kept the teams off the board. In the second period, Zac Rinaldo and Sheldon Brookbank dropped the gloves after the gloves after Rinaldo hit Brookbank along the boards.
In the third period, the Flyers had two straight power plays but couldn't convert on either of them. The Blackhawks came into the game 23rd in the league on the penalty kill, but kept the Flyers power play off the board in five chances. Brayden Schenn had two chances to win the game for the Flyers, but couldn't put the puck in the net.
The win was Emery's first since February 8th versus the Calgary Flames because he was out with a groin injury. The win also gave the Flyers some breathing room in the playoff race with the Columbus Blue jackets losing, 3-1, to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Flyers are three points ahead of the Blue Jackets in the standings.
The next game doesn't get any easier for the Flyers as the Dallas Stars come to the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Andrew MacDonald Makes Flyers Debut
Andrew MacDonald made his debut for the Philadelphia Flyers last night versus the Washington Capitals.
MacDonald was paired with Luke Schenn. He played a pretty solid game with the exception of having a shot go off of him and into his own net. The defenseman finished the game with an assist, was a plus two, blocked three shots and finished with 18:07 of ice time.
He didn't get any time on the power play, but that's because the Flyers have had their power play units set since the beginning of the year. MacDonald did get to play 1:18 of shorthanded time. He got a chance to play on the penalty kill because the Flyers had traded Andrej Meszaros earlier in the day to the Boston Bruins.
MacDonald looked like he could move the puck up the ice pretty good. He had three hits and can play physical at times. MacDonald and Luke Schenn looked like an adequate defensive pairing. Luke Schenn will now have a steady defensive partner unlike earlier in the season and that could benefit him down the stretch.
MacDonald had a good debut for his new team. You didn't notice home when he was on the ice because he wasn't making any stupid plays or mistakes. He also stayed out of the penalty box. Hopefully the defenseman can play smart for the rest of the season with the Flyers being in the middle of the playoff race.
MacDonald was paired with Luke Schenn. He played a pretty solid game with the exception of having a shot go off of him and into his own net. The defenseman finished the game with an assist, was a plus two, blocked three shots and finished with 18:07 of ice time.
He didn't get any time on the power play, but that's because the Flyers have had their power play units set since the beginning of the year. MacDonald did get to play 1:18 of shorthanded time. He got a chance to play on the penalty kill because the Flyers had traded Andrej Meszaros earlier in the day to the Boston Bruins.
MacDonald looked like he could move the puck up the ice pretty good. He had three hits and can play physical at times. MacDonald and Luke Schenn looked like an adequate defensive pairing. Luke Schenn will now have a steady defensive partner unlike earlier in the season and that could benefit him down the stretch.
MacDonald had a good debut for his new team. You didn't notice home when he was on the ice because he wasn't making any stupid plays or mistakes. He also stayed out of the penalty box. Hopefully the defenseman can play smart for the rest of the season with the Flyers being in the middle of the playoff race.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Flyers acquire Andrew MacDonald from Islanders
The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired defenseman Andrew MacDonald from the New York Islanders in exchange for prospect Matt Mangene, a 2014 third round draft pick and a 2015 second round draft pick.
MacDonald, 27, is in his last season of a four year, $2.2 million contract. He is due to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The defenseman was reportedly asking for $5 million per season from the Islanders, according to nbcsports.com.
MacDonald was drafted by the Islanders in the sixth round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He has played in 295 career games registering 17 goals, 72 assists, 89 points, is a minus 11, has five power play goals, and four game-winning goals.
This season MacDonald had played in all 63 games for the Islanders. He has four goals, 20 assists, 24 points, is a minus 19 with two power play goals, while averaging 25:25 of ice time per game. MacDonald also has 48 hits, 198 blocked shots, 53 giveaways and 22 takeaways. His last assist came against the Flyers on January 20, 2014.
He can play at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill unit. MacDonald, the Islanders assistant captain, will be reunited with former teammate, Mark Streit. Streit was acquired by the Flyers in the offseason.
The Flyers most likely aren't done making trades. They now have nine defensemen on the roster. I'd look for the Orange and Black to move Andrej Meszaros before the deadline since he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The Flyers are asking for a second round draft pick for Meszaros, according to Darren Dreger.
capgeek.com/player/1110
nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8473584#&navid=nhl-search
MacDonald, 27, is in his last season of a four year, $2.2 million contract. He is due to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The defenseman was reportedly asking for $5 million per season from the Islanders, according to nbcsports.com.
MacDonald was drafted by the Islanders in the sixth round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He has played in 295 career games registering 17 goals, 72 assists, 89 points, is a minus 11, has five power play goals, and four game-winning goals.
This season MacDonald had played in all 63 games for the Islanders. He has four goals, 20 assists, 24 points, is a minus 19 with two power play goals, while averaging 25:25 of ice time per game. MacDonald also has 48 hits, 198 blocked shots, 53 giveaways and 22 takeaways. His last assist came against the Flyers on January 20, 2014.
He can play at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill unit. MacDonald, the Islanders assistant captain, will be reunited with former teammate, Mark Streit. Streit was acquired by the Flyers in the offseason.
The Flyers most likely aren't done making trades. They now have nine defensemen on the roster. I'd look for the Orange and Black to move Andrej Meszaros before the deadline since he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The Flyers are asking for a second round draft pick for Meszaros, according to Darren Dreger.
capgeek.com/player/1110
nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8473584#&navid=nhl-search
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Panthers Acquire Brandon Pirri from Blackhawks
The Florida Panthers have acquired center Brandon Pirri from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2014 3rd round draft pick and a 2016 5th round pick.
Pirri is only 22 years old and is in the last year of his entry level contract. He is a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The center was taken in the second round (59th overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft by the Blackhawks.
Pirri has split his time this season between the Blackhawks and their AHL affiliate, the Rockford Ice Hogs. He played in 28 games in the NHL this season, while scoring six goals, assisting on five goals, and tallying 11 points. The young center was a plus six in those games with 12:15 of ice time per game.
Pirri did get some power play time while in the NHL. He averaged about 54 seconds of power play time per game this season. He also had 14 hits, 10 blocked shots, only three give aways and 12 takeaways. He was sent down to Rockford and then called back up to the Blackhawks on January 27.
Pirri lead the AHL in scoring during the 2011-12 season with 75 points and won the John B. Sollenberger Trophy for being the league's leading scorer. He played 238 games, tallied 68 goals, had 132 assists for a total of 200 points and was plus 13 during his time with the Ice Hogs.
In the 26 games he played for the Ice Hogs this season, Pirri had 11 goals, 15 assists, 26 points and was a minus 1. He seems like he is responsible with the puck and can score by his career stats in both the NHL and AHL.
capgeek.com/player/1869
theahl.com/stats/player.php?id=3777
http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8475204#&navid=nhl-search
Pirri is only 22 years old and is in the last year of his entry level contract. He is a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The center was taken in the second round (59th overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft by the Blackhawks.
Pirri has split his time this season between the Blackhawks and their AHL affiliate, the Rockford Ice Hogs. He played in 28 games in the NHL this season, while scoring six goals, assisting on five goals, and tallying 11 points. The young center was a plus six in those games with 12:15 of ice time per game.
Pirri did get some power play time while in the NHL. He averaged about 54 seconds of power play time per game this season. He also had 14 hits, 10 blocked shots, only three give aways and 12 takeaways. He was sent down to Rockford and then called back up to the Blackhawks on January 27.
Pirri lead the AHL in scoring during the 2011-12 season with 75 points and won the John B. Sollenberger Trophy for being the league's leading scorer. He played 238 games, tallied 68 goals, had 132 assists for a total of 200 points and was plus 13 during his time with the Ice Hogs.
In the 26 games he played for the Ice Hogs this season, Pirri had 11 goals, 15 assists, 26 points and was a minus 1. He seems like he is responsible with the puck and can score by his career stats in both the NHL and AHL.
capgeek.com/player/1869
theahl.com/stats/player.php?id=3777
http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8475204#&navid=nhl-search
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