NEWSLETTER
This morning, the Chicago Blackhawks woke up winners for just the second time this season, after an overtime win against the Nashville Predators in Derek King’s first game as an NHL head coach. Still, the injury report saw some additions this morning in practice.
MEDICAL UPDATE: Forwards Brandon Hagel (left shoulder) and MacKenzie Entwistle (left ankle), and defenseman Calvin de Haan (maintenance) will not practice today. #Blackhawks
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 8, 2021
Brandon Hagel, who scored a goal against the Predators on Sunday and has four goals in his last six games, missed practice with a left shoulder injury suffered in last night’s victory.
MacKenzie Entwistle left last night’s game after colliding with Mike Hardman, and the Blackhawks have listed his left ankle as his reason for the missed skate this morning. Entwistle scored the Blackhawks’ lone goal in their Friday night clunker against Winnipeg. Defenseman Calvin de Haan also missed practice today, and the Blackhawks have listed his absence as a maintenance day.
There is some good news; however, injured defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk was practicing with the team today and part of the defensive pairings as he spent the practice paired up with Erik Gustafsson. Kalynuk was injured late in training camp when he went awkwardly into the boards during practice and has not played since.
Kalynuk’s return would be a nice boost for this defensive unit, but now the Blackhawks are short in the forward’s department. As a result, Reese Johnson was recalled after spending the weekend in Rockford as depth. In addition, Isaak Phillips and Tyler Johnson remain in the COVID-19 protocols as of this afternoon. Henrik Borgström, who was removed from the COVID-19 protocols on November 3 but has not played since then, was practicing today.
The Blackhawks are off tonight but will host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday evening in what was going to be Marian Hossa Legacy Night, but those festivities have been postponed indefinitely.
