Game Notes: Halfway Home in Traverse City

Prospect Tournament Game Notes: Monday, Sept. 9

TRAVERSE CITY, MICH -- The Chicago Blackhawks have split their first two games of the 2019 NHL Prospect Tournament, downing Detroit on Friday before suffering a setback against Toronto on Saturday. Here are several notes, storylines and tidbits as the team hits the halfway mark of this year's showcase as Centre Ice Arena.

-Eight different skaters have scored a goal for Chicago through the first two games in the 2019 NHL Prospect Tournament…That total is tied with Toronto for the most of any team entering Monday.

-Defenseman Chad Krys currently ranks second among all tournament skaters in plus/minus with a +4 rating over two contests…He finished +1 with a pair of assists against Toronto and was a game-high +3 in the opening round against Detroit…His +3 rating against the Red Wings was the best mark for a Chicago skater since the 2017 tournament (Game 3: Luc Snuggerud, +6).

-Six of the Blackhawks’ seven defensemen have registered a point through the team's first two games...That total of six D-men with points is twice the amount from any other team in the tournament...It also already ranks as more than any team from entire 2018 showcase...Chicago has boasted the most defensemen with points for each of the last three tournaments: 2017 - five defensemen with 1+ points; 2018 - five defensemen with 1+ points; 2019 - currently six defensemen with 1+ points.

-The Blackhawks are outscoring opponents 5-2 in the first period entering Monday…Chicago has potted its first goal within the first seven minutes of each contest, finding twine at 6:09 in the opening period Friday against Detroit and 6:36 in the first stanza Saturday against Toronto.

-Goaltender Alexis Gravel made 27 saves in the tournament-opening win on Friday…The effort currently stands as the second-most saves in a single game for any netminder thus far this tournament...His 27 saves were just one shy of Veini Vehvilainen during Columbus’ 3-2 win vs. Minnesota on Saturday.

-The Blackhawks have been whistled for 14 penalties over two contests and begin play today with the second-most times being shorthanded…Only St. Louis (15 TSH) has faced more opposing power plays thus far.

Chicago completes pool play today with a 4:30 CST showdown against St. Louis. The Blackhawks prospects will then be seeded for a final contest against an opposing team from the Ted Lindsay Division in the consolation round of the tournament (the winner of Toronto and Detroit's game today will represent the Gordie Howe division in the championship).

NEXT HOME GAME: Saturday, Oct. 12 vs. Grand Rapids Griffins | 6 p.m.
The Rockford IceHogs will host their home opener for the 2019-20 season on Saturday, Oct. 12 against the Grand Rapids Griffins at 6 p.m. at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The first 4,000 fans in attendance to Rockford’s first home game of the campaign will receive a free IceHogs calendar, courtesy of Impact Networking. Call the IceHogs front office at (815) 968-5222 or visit icehogs.com to purchase tickets.