NEWSLETTER
Last night was not a fun game. It was good for the first twenty minutes, but the next forty were some of the worst of the season for the Blackhawks. What made it worse was if you spent any time on hockey Twitter last night, which I’m sure a lot of you did.
• In a 2-2 game, the turning point in the night came when Jacob Trouba ran over Jujhar Khaira mid-way through the second period. Khaira had his head down looking for the puck between his skates when Trouba leveled Khaira with a shoulder/elbow shot to the head, knocking Khaira out before he hit the ice. In the post below you can see the hit, if you haven’t already, but a warning that it’s rough.
Thoughts and well wishes for Jujhar Khaira, who left the ice on a stretcher after this dirty hit by Jacob Trouba. #Blackhawks https://t.co/oO1IDILD2F
— Patrick K. Flowers (@PatrickKFlowers) December 8, 2021
• And yeah, it was a head shot.
“He hit his chest”
Oh yeah? pic.twitter.com/cspSXziFRn— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) December 8, 2021
• “KEep Ur heAd uP BrO” Miss me with this bullsh-. The NHL has evolved, somewhat, from the days where knocking someone out cold with an open ice hit to the head was a lesson learned for the player laying unconscious on the ice. Scott Stevens’ hit on Paul Karyia that KO’d him, only for him to return to the game and score a goal is an iconic moment in Stanley Cup Final history. It is also a moment that contributes to the fact that Karyia’s career was cut short and he cannot remember large portions of his life. The onus needs to be on the player making the check when they are going after someone in a vulnerable position. If you watch the video, Khaira’s head is down, but he raises it at the last second before Trouba hits him, changing his level. Trouba comes in at the same level as Khaira with his head down and follows Khaira’s level change with him, ultimately driving his shoulder/elbow into Khaira’s jaw. If Trouba keeps his level low, his shoulder goes into Khaira’s chest and we’re having a much different discussion today. If Trouba comes away without a significant fine and/or suspension, I’ll be shocked. Then again, this is the NHL Department of Player Safety we’re talking about.
• Luckily for Khaira, he looks to be alright and has been released from the hospital this morning.
Blackhawks Make Some Roster Moves (Plus a Positive Update on Jujhar Khaira)https://t.co/GLwZ64ST0a
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 8, 2021
• He’ll likely be in concussion protocol for a while, with no real timetable for his return.
Update from Dr. Michael Terry on #Blackhawks forward Jujar Khaira: He was released from the hospital early this morning and returned home.
"His prognosis is excellent and we expect a full recovery. … It is too early to put a timeline on return to play.”— John Dietz (@johndietzdh) December 8, 2021
• With Khaira being added to the list of injured Blackhawks, the team made a number of roster moves as well today. Notably, MacKenzie Entwistle is back to full heath.
Blackhawks roster moves in wake of Khaira injury:
– Hardman called up
– Kurashev called up
– Mitchell sent down
– Kalynuk sent down
– Entwistle activated from LTIR and sent down— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) December 8, 2021
• Following the hit on Khaira and fallout from the lopsided loss to the Rangers last night, the Blackhawks are not practicing today before heading to Montreal to face the Canadiens. I don’t blame them.
The Blackhawks will unexpectedly not hold practice tomorrow morning before traveling to Montreal.
The team presumably needs some time to gather their emotions.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) December 8, 2021
• It’s crazy to me that the game was not paused in some fashion following Khaira being stretchered off the ice. Having to see your teammate knocked out cold, strapped to a stretcher, carted away and then having to go back to playing like nothing happened is one of the most difficult mental tasks you could ask of an athlete. After the game, you could sense how it affected Jonathan Toews and the rest of the team.
Jonathan Toews was emotional in the postgame press conference talking about Jujhar Khaira pic.twitter.com/0xbkl7uFMc
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) December 8, 2021
• Hopefully Khaira can have a full recovery and the Blackhawks can bounce-back against the Canadiens tomorrow night.
• The game, itself, started much like the game on Saturday night in New York between these teams, with best friends Patrick Kane and Artemiy Panarin having some pregame fun.
Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin trying to hit each other with pucks again at the end of warmups. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/PdiW0Q0UqJ
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 8, 2021
• It took just one minute for the Rangers to take the lead and on that opening goal, Panarin recorded his 500th career NHL point.
Artemi Panarin (172-328—500 in 457 GP) required the fifth-fewest games among active players to record 500 points, trailing only Connor McDavid (369 GP), Sidney Crosby (369 GP), Alex Ovechkin (373 GP) and Evgeni Malkin (413 GP).#NHLStats: https://t.co/WlxpFDDTXQ https://t.co/twGAdOjdgP
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 8, 2021
• His first point of his career came with the Blackhawks against the Rangers, his 500th comes with the Rangers against the Blackhawks. Life is funny like that sometimes.
• Panarin would also record career points number 501, 502, and 503 on the night, part of another multi-point game against his former club.
Artemi Panarin now has 5 goals & 6 assists for 11 points in seven career games vs. the Blackhawks.
Three 3-point nights in their last four meetings, including another 3-point night tonight.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) December 8, 2021
• Kinda getting old at this point. Luckily the Blackhawks won’t have to see Panarin and the Rangers again this season unless they meet in the Stanley Cup Final.
• Prior to yesterday’s game, I wrote about the Blackhawks’ goal droughts and how the top players not producing is hurting the team.
The Blackhawks Need To Start Scoring Goals, Whatever Way Possiblehttps://t.co/A0p7K88kBX
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 7, 2021
• Maybe the guys read it? Erik Gustafsson scored his first goal of the season to tie the game in the first period last night.
https://twitter.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/1468398663894450179?s=20
• Following that, Kirby Dach ended a 17-game goal-drought with the 2-1 goal to give the Blackhawks the lead at that point in the game.
Kirby off the faceoff win! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/6CB3KAMrNM
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) December 8, 2021
• You could see on the ice what it meant to Gustafsson and Dach to get those goals. Plus, following giving up a goal in the first minute of the game, the Blackhawks found these two in the first period to have a response that had been missing in the beginning of the year.
• Unfortunately, those two goals would be all they could muster-up. Their low-scoring offensive run continues this season and last night, their ability to keep opponents close fell apart.
#Blackhawks have scored 2 or fewer goals in 17 of 25 games this season. They've scored more than 3 just twice. Crazy turnabout from the last several seasons
— Chris Boden (@BodenTweets) December 8, 2021
• The loss was hung on Marc-André Fleury, making his 900th career start in the NHL. He’ll have to wait for another opportunity to reach career win number 500 though, still sitting at 499 after last night.
• Losing last night was tough, but it’s not the full story from the Blackhawks since Derek King took over. They are 8-5-0 since November 6 when King was promoted to interim head coach, and while some of the games have gotten away from them against top-tier opponents, the Blackhawks are making things interesting in most contests. Even if they are low-event games. For King, maybe his time behind the bench lasts longer than this season?
Let’s At Least Talk About the IDEA of Derek King MAYBE Shedding the Interim Tag EVENTUALLYhttps://t.co/P7TNJ1CL5P
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 7, 2021
• It beats having to listen to “Fire Colliton” chants.
Dueling, but weak, "Let's Go Rangers" and "Fire Nagy" chants among the few fans left at the UC.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) December 8, 2021
• Speaking of Matt Nagy, here we are again, being told that this is his last chance. What else is new?
I see what’s been written about what could happen after the Packers game, but I won’t believe anything until it happens at this point. https://t.co/CDnPpXQqTQ
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) December 8, 2021
• I am not looking forward to Sunday night’s game, but at the same time, maybe a national TV embarrassment is what finally gets Nagy, and maybe Ryan Pace, out of Chicago.
• Speaking of coach and GM changes, in Dan Rosen’s latest NHL dot com mailbag, he talks about what the Blackhawks might do as far as finding a permanent solution to their front office openings.
In my weekly #OvertheBoards mailbag you'll find thoughts on the Blackhawks front office, the Boudreau Bump, suffering Flyers fans and why defensemen seem to be scoring more this season.https://t.co/l5GSomIpCp
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) December 8, 2021
• Hey, where have I heard this idea before?
• I’m sure you’ve seen it by now, but holy shit was this play by Trevor Zegras and Sonny Milano INSANE last night.
Trevor Zegras oh my god pic.twitter.com/GZjZNaRTYj
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) December 8, 2021
• You know a goal is incredible when the guy who sets it up is shocked that it worked…
New NHL Logo… pic.twitter.com/U74f21PapE
— House Of BucciZegras (@Buccigross) December 8, 2021
• Zegras, taken ninth overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, has 35 points in 49 career NHL games already. The third overall pick, Kirby Dach, has 43 points in 107 career games. Just, you know, throwing it out there.
Talking @TimHortons, Boston Creme Doughnuts, alley oop tuck with Sonny Milano, crazy goals, and 🇺🇸, with @tzegras11. 🍩 🏒 🍝 pic.twitter.com/yMUt0GetYC
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) December 8, 2021
• Cannot wait for Zegras to lead the next wave of U.S. talent in the NHL. He’s going to be special.
• That will do it for today. Hope you all have a good Wednesday!
