Michael Jordan is expected to make a rare appearance at the United Center this weekend to honor the jersey retirement of his old friend, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings great Chris Chelios.
Chelios said Wednesday morning on WSCR-AM 670 that the Chicago Bulls legend is among the guests he expects to attend to raise his No. 7 jersey to the UC rafters in a ceremony that will take place Sunday afternoon. The pregame ceremony takes place before the Eagles take on the Detroit Red Wings.
“I would have them bring in as many people as possible who were influential to me, and obviously (Jordan) was a big part of me in the ’90s,” Chelios said on “The Mulley and Howe Show.”
“They’re going to be here to support me. I’ve got a really good Rolodex over my career, so I’m loading it up. This is one last hurray and I’m going to make it better.”
Jordan and Chelios spent nearly a decade at the United Center, capturing the attention of fans. The Bulls drafted Jordan in 1984. Chelios was traded to the Blackhawks from the Montreal Canadiens in 1990 and played in Chicago until 1999, one year after Jordan retired from the Bulls for the second time. In 1992, both led their teams to the Finals.
The two met at a White Sox game after Chelios was traded and became friends in Chicago, even being greeted by the Eagles in Chelios’ first game after being traded back to Chicago in 1999. After being booed by fans, the pair also shared a glass of wine together.
Jordan did not attend the inaugural Bulls Ring of Honor ceremony in January, though Jordan cited scheduling issues and sent a video praising the team and expressing gratitude for the honor.
“I’m sorry I can’t be here tonight, but I don’t want that to stop you guys from having fun,” Jordan said. “I think we made a huge impression and changed Chicago’s path to a championship. Every time you look up to the rafters, I hope you always remember where we were and where we are now.
“We will always be champions. I will always be a part of the Chicago Bulls organization and I hope they continue to do well. I hope to see other banners in the rafters and I hope this city will always be proud of the Chicago Bulls”.
Sunday’s game will be a big one for Hawks fans as franchise great Patrick Kane returns to Chicago for the first time since being traded to the New York Rangers last season.
Former Blackhawks players Tony Amonte, Ed Belfort, Jeremy Roenicke and Dennis Savard will also attend Chelios’ retirement ceremony.
Grand Rapids1, Texas 0
First-round draft pick Sebastian Cosar was blocked for the first time in the American Hockey League on Wednesday.
Kosar had 28 shots on goal in a 1-0 win over the Texas Stars at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. He is now 11-7-5 with a 2.63 goals against average and 0.909 save percentage.
Defenseman Albert Johnson scored the only goal of the game 25 seconds into the first period.
Matthews scores his 50th goal
Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews scored his 50th goal of the season in his homecoming game on Wednesday night, becoming the fastest NHL player to reach the mark in 28 years.
Matthews played his 54th game of the season with the Toronto Raptors leading 2-0 against the Arizona Coyotes 5:01 into the game at Mullett Arena.
Coming from nearby Scottsdale, Matthews scored on a shot from the box to the left of goaltender Karel Vermelka. Mitchell Marner and Timothy Liljegren assisted Arizona’s Michael Carcone on a slashing goal in the penalty area.
Mario Lemieux reached the milestone when he played in 50 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1995-96 season. The fastest was Wayne Gretzky, who scored his 50th goal in his 39th game with Edmonton in the 1981-82 season, giving him a record 92 goals. record. Matthews is the fastest American-born player to reach 50 years old.
Matthews has eight goals in his last four games and had two consecutive hat tricks before scoring one against St. Louis on Monday night. Florida State’s Sam Reinhart ranks second in the NHL with 39 goals. Matthews scored 349 goals in 535 games.
Matthews led the NHL with 60 goals two seasons ago, making him the first to reach that mark since Steven Stamkos scored 60 in 2011-12. target person. The last players to score more than 70 points in a season were Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny, who each scored 76 points in the 1992-93 season.
Philadelphia 3, Chicago 1: Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim and Galent Hathaway scored and Samuel Elson made 22 saves for the Flyers.
Philadelphia has a record of 5 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss in its past seven games. Chicago is last in the NHL, having lost 10 of 11 games.
Colin Blackwell scored for Chicago. Arvid Soderblom stopped 30 shots.
Buffalo 3, (in) Montreal: Alex Tuch scored on a shorthanded goal to lift Buffalo past Montreal and break a second-period tie.
Zemges Girgensens and Jeff Skinner also scored, and Uk-Pekka Lukonen made 29 saves to help the Sabers improve to 25-27-4. Skinner’s 27 goals against the Canucks rank second among active players behind Alex Ovechkin (38).
Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble scored for Montreal, and Sam Montembeault made 20 saves. Montreal has suffered three consecutive defeats, losing five of six games and falling to 22 wins, 26 draws and 8 losses.
Byfield has breakout season
Quinton Byfield’s highlight-reel goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night went viral on social media.
But the truth is, it’s further proof that the Los Angeles Kings forward is having a breakout season and showing the potential that would make him the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.
The 21-year-old right winger ranks third on the team with 18 goals and fourth with 42 points. Among NHL skaters 21 or younger, only St. Louis’ Jake Neighbors has more goals this season than Byfield, with 19.
Entering this season, Byfield scored 8 goals and 34 points in 99 regular season games in the first three seasons.
“I feel good about the puck right now. The confidence is definitely there because I know I can play and trust my shot. If I make the shot, I have a good chance to score,” the Kings said in the Kings’ 5-1 win over the Blue Jackets on Tuesday night Byfield said after the team.
Byfield is 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, but he skates faster than he thought he could. He showed off his goal-scoring speed on Tuesday when he took the ball on a draw from Pierre-Luc Dubois and Boone Jenner in the Columbus offensive zone and quickly skated up the ice.
Byfield didn’t appear to be at an angle to the net until he sent the puck through the legs of Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Wilenski near the left faceoff circle in the Los Angeles offensive zone. Byfield regained possession by kicking the ball onto his stick, and despite taking a knee when shooting, he backhanded it past Elvis Merzlikins’ glove.
While it was the top hockey highlight of the night – and a candidate for Goal of the Year – it wasn’t Byfield’s favorite score. On December 7, in Montreal, Byfield outran Canadiens defenseman Kayden Goule, cut into the goal area, knocked goalie Sam Montebiot over, and fired the ball into the net.
“This one (against Columbus) was more of a skills game, and the one in Montreal was more of a power play,” said Byfield, who has six goals in his past 10 games , scored 12 points. “They’re two different goals, but to do it at the Bell Center, I think it’s a little bit special because it’s a huge hockey market and being from Canada, growing up watching those games and seeing the crowds.”
If the Kings want to finish well at the end of the season, Byfield will need to continue to perform well. Led by former Red Wings forward and assistant coach Jim Shearer, Los Angeles has won four straight after winning just three of its last 16 games before the All-Star break, leading to McClellan’s firing. , with a record of 5 wins and 1 loss.
The Kings enter Thursday night’s game against Nashville as the Western Conference’s first wild card but still within striking distance of second place in the Pacific Division, which would put them on home ice in the first round.
“It’s going to be tough competition here, but it’s going to be fun,” Byfield said. “We know what’s here. “We know we can keep climbing up the table and get back on track. “
The last pen run was full
Kyle Dubas wants to give Sidney Crosby and the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins every opportunity to prove they’re worth the investment this season.
time is limited.
While Dubas isn’t ready to use his first trade deadline as Pittsburgh general manager/director of hockey operations to hit the reset button on the NHL’s oldest franchise, he also may have no choice.
The Penguins currently sit eight points out of the playoff spot with eight games remaining before the March 8 deadline and find themselves closer to last place in the Eastern Conference than a wild-card spot. The star-studded Game of Thrones was a mess. The easy goals that had been there for so long have dried up, at least for everyone but Crosby, who at 36 is still a wonder.
Dubas now finds himself fielding calls from other teams wondering who will be available, a stark contrast from much of the past two decades, when Pittsburgh’s front office would extend deadlines in hopes of winning again. Win the Stanley Cup.
By 2024, the situation will be less serious. However, out of respect for the Stanley Cup resume of the team’s core trio of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Chris Letang, Dubas is reluctant to list “for sale” outside PPG. ” sign. Paint the arena.
Not yet anyway.
“I think if this group didn’t have the pedigree that it has… I wouldn’t feel like they would have the same freedom,” Dubas said.
they are. At least that’s the case for now. However, in order to show Dubas that they are still a playoff-caliber team, they must do something that has become increasingly rare over the past 18 months: consistently win hockey games.
“Yeah, obviously we have to start grabbing points,” forward Brian Rust (Pontiac) said.
Michigan area hockey games this week
Wednesday
▶ Grand Rapids 1, Texas 0
Thursday
▶ Colorado Red Wings, 7 (BSD/97.1)
Friday
▶ Ohio State vs. Michigan State, 6 (Big Ten +/1240)
▶ Notre Dame, Michigan, 8 (Big Ten)
▶ Lincoln, NTDP U18 Team, 7
▶ St. Cloud, West Michigan, 8
▶ Michigan Technological University, Bowling Green, 7:30
▶ Northern Michigan Ferris State University, 7
Saturday
▶ St. Louis Red Wings, noon (ABC/ESPN/97.1)
▶ Texas Red Wings, 7 (AHL/106.9/1300)
▶ Ohio State vs. Michigan State, 7 (Big Ten +/1240)
▶ Notre Dame Michigan, 6:30 (Big Ten)
▶ Lincoln, NTDP U17 Team, 7
▶ St. Cloud, West Michigan, 7
▶ Michigan Technological University, Bowling Green, 7
▶ Northern Michigan Ferris State University, 6
Sunday
▶ Chicago Red Wings, 6 (NHL/BSD/97.1)
▶ Milwaukee-Grand Rapids, 5 (AHL/106.9/1300)
on Monday
▶ Red Wings 4, Seattle 3 (SO)