NEWSLETTER
I’m going to advise you to take time today to enjoy your Saturday. Whatever that means to you, do it. And if it means gathering with people or going into public spaces, please be smart and wear a mask. For your sake, the sake of the people around you, and for your friends and family members who you may be gathering with next week for the holidays.
• The NHL is still on the warpath to power through the current COVID outbreak spreading through the league. Eventually, we are going to get to a point where too many players, coaches, staff members, etc. are going to be in COVID protocols and even on a case-by-case basis, too many games are going to be postponed and too many teams are going to be individually shutdown.
Expect more NHL postponements to be announced today. A league-wide pause feels inevitable but for now sense is the NHL/NHLPA will try to power through next few days if possible with case by case approach still…
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 18, 2021
• More from ESPN’s Emily Kaplan:
From @SportsCenter tonight… here's the latest on where things stand in the NHL after a hectic day.
The NHL is hoping it can avoid a full-on pause & is taking things on a case-by-case basis. But things are looking grim…..for Olympic participation, too. pic.twitter.com/QpQPf0py07
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) December 17, 2021
• We talked about the league implementing enhanced COVID protocols, today they made it official.
The enhanced NHL protocols for COVID testing. pic.twitter.com/f6TYzKNhW0
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) December 18, 2021
• So far this morning, here’s where we are with new additions to the NHL’s COVID protocols, starting Detroit:
UPDATE: The #RedWings have placed Givani Smith, Carter Rowney, Alex Nedeljkovic, head coach Jeff Blashill and assistant coach Alex Tanguay in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 18, 2021
• Late last night, additions from the Maple Leafs:
Maple Leafs forwards Wayne Simmonds and Jason Spezza have been placed into the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.
Forward Alex Steeves and defenceman Carl Dahlström have been recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 18, 2021
• The Blackhawks, who just played one of the hardest hit teams last night, have been relatively lucky when it comes to COVID cases. Here’s to hoping that can continue to hold true.
Seth Jones on Covid: "Everyone’s just gotta be careful with wha’s going on around the league right now. And Nashville’s got a few cases and hopefully that doesn’t spread through who they’re playing. Just take it day by day and see what happens."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) December 17, 2021
• The Olympics are out the door, if you ask me, for the NHL. At this point, it makes me start to wonder what the All-Star weekend will be like.
Seth Jones, Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat have been discussing the Olympics lately. Jones said they're all hoping to still go, but they're trying to sort through all the uncertainty facing players if they go to Beijing.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) December 17, 2021
• And it’s not just the NHL getting hit with this. It’s pro leagues around North America and the world, and in the NHL’s backyard with multiple teams in the AHL having games postponed already. Today, the Manitoba Moose, AHL affiliate to the Winnipeg Jets, had their games postponed through the 22nd.
Due to league COVID-19 protocols and related travel concerns affecting the @ManitobaMoose, their games through Dec. 22 have been postponed.
Details: https://t.co/8Xd6c0phXu pic.twitter.com/GsZN7YQlID
— AHL Communications (@AHLPR) December 18, 2021
• I’m so sick of talking about this. I really am. I’m sure you’re sick of hearing about it. But this is the reality the league is facing right now.
• Speaking of AHL hockey, the Rockford IceHogs beat the Texas Stars last night and the insurance goal came from Collin Delia, making him the first goalie in IceHogs team history to score a goal!
DELIA SCORES! DELIA SCORES! DELIA SCORES!
WE WIN 3-1! pic.twitter.com/l8rh6G4mDB
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) December 18, 2021
• Not only is Delia stopping goals, he’s creating chances too…
SWEEEETT SWEET VICTORY!
Collin Delia now has a goal and an assist in his last three games. pic.twitter.com/vnnLBMj1PH
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) December 18, 2021
• You’ll take it any way you can get it, right?
Collin Delia on his goal tonight: "I knew I was the last one to touch it, but I didn't know if anyone else saw it. I think the shot was going wide anyway but I got a toe on it. Couldn't believe I got credit for it. I thought it was hilarious."#IceHogs #AHL
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) December 18, 2021
• With the win last night, the IceHogs are 11-9-2 on the season and have won six of their last ten games. Delia made 24/25 saves to earn his fourth win of the season.
• Former Blackhawks goaltender Malcolm Subban, now with the Buffalo Sabres, may have made the save of the year last night against then Penguins…
oh my god, what a save by subban #LetsGoBuffalo #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/EkKrkhcdgi
— Buffalo Hockey moments (@SabresPlays) December 18, 2021
• I mean…how?
• Also happening in that Sabres-Penguins game last night was the NHL debut of Casey Fitzgerald for Buffalo. What better way to say hello to the NHL than to get into your first NHL fight with Mom and Dad in the stands?
Things got a little heated in Pittsburgh and Casey Fitzgerald's mom wasn't loving it. 😂🥊 pic.twitter.com/eldiCRFWZK
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 18, 2021
• Not a bad scrap for Fitzgerald.
• In the Blackhawks game last night, Kirby Dach got on the board for his fifth goal of the season and his second in five games after going 17-games without a goal earlier this season.
Just what the Dach-tor ordered 🩺 pic.twitter.com/ZoU9mfFLq0
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 18, 2021
• Dach is scoring at a 14-goal pace for the season, which wouldn’t bother me if he was dishing out assist at 40-per season pace. But he’s not doing that either. He’s also not winning faceoffs, just 33.1% of them this season. He’s still just 20-years-old, and likely still regaining his confidence after a challenging season last year. His goal last night hopefully has a “floodgates” effect to it.
• Much like Jonathan Toews’ first goal of the season had a floodgates effect for him. Tying to game late in the third period last night, Toews netted his third goal of the year and third in his last four games. The 33-year-old Captain is enjoying a four-game point-streak now. Maybe he’s fixed?
Tie game! Toews with his 3rd goal in his last 4 games!#Blackhawks #CHIvsNSH pic.twitter.com/enCR5oKaPX
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 18, 2021
• With Dach and Toews scoring, the Blackhawks forced overtime against an underwhelming Predators team last night that was playing with a lineup that was nearly half-full with AHL Admirals players. Nashville was playing on the second night of back-to-back games as well. Getting to overtime was fine in the moment for Chicago, but this was a game that the Blackhawks should have won.
Roman Josi feeds it to @Tanner_Jeannot for the @EASPORTSNHL OT winner! 🍎
Seven wins in a row for the @PredsNHL. pic.twitter.com/SDwfvvqIEE
— NHL (@NHL) December 18, 2021
• They didn’t. Clearly. They not only didn’t win, they stole the pity point in a game where they were out-played by Nashville in nearly every aspect of the game. That can’t happen for a team that is fresh and also playing a much more NHL-looking lineup than their opponents.
• Scary moment for the Blackhawks last night and one that led to the Predators having the rush chance they did in overtime, Patrick Kane took a puck to the face and had to leave the ice abruptly in overtime. But according to head coach Derek King, he’ll be fine.
Patrick Kane took a puck to the mouth in overtime and came to the bench early. Derek King said he's pretty sure he's fine. #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 18, 2021
• Chicago can’t afford to lose a player like Kane at this point in the season, as they are trying to crawl out of the 1-9-2 hole from the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, over their past 14 games, the Blackhawks have alternated wins and losses and have a 7-6-1 record over that stretch.
• They’ll hopefully have a chance to get back in the win column tonight, in Dallas against the Stars.
• A Happy 24th Birthday to Alex DeBrincat!
Happy 24th Birthday to the Cat! #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/dYe8c35Oa6
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 18, 2021
• He’s been arguably the team MVP this season for Chicago. Maybe the next Captain?
• That would obviously mean that Jonathan Toews was not a Blackhawk any longer. He and Patrick Kane are due new contracts at the end of next season, so what would those look like?
What Would Extensions Look Like for Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews?https://t.co/iD4zkHIur2
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 17, 2021
• It’s hard to imagine either of those two not playing their entire careers in Chicago, but it could very well happen.
• Trevor Zegras is quickly becoming one of the more popular young players in the NHL and the game is better for it. Need younger guys not afraid to show a little flair on and off the ice.
ICYMI: @tzegras11 arrived in style for Star Wars Night at Honda Center Friday. #TheMandalorian
📸: @AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/IMBN7amuRd
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 18, 2021
• Speaking of the next generation of NHL players, Blackhawks goalie prospect Drew Commesso is about to take center stage for Team USA at the World Junior Championships later this month (assuming they still happen) and Chicago fans have a lot to look forward to both on and off the ice with a player like Commesso.
Every so often, I’m struck by a conversation I have with one of these kids. It has been a while since I was as impressed by one as I was after the call I had with Commesso during his quarantine at the hotel. An articulate, intelligent kid with a great head on his shoulders.
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) December 18, 2021
• Now to figure out what the plan is for him and the Blackhawks future in net…
• Speaking of Team USA, Kendall Coyne-Schofield scored one of two game-tying goals for the U.S. against Canada last night in their latest matchup in the rivalry series…
.@KendallCoyne strikes 40 seconds into the power play to tie the game!#MyWhyTour | @usahockey pic.twitter.com/rMO8pIFfjU
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) December 18, 2021
• But in the overtime period, it was Canadian Captain Marie-Philip Poulin with the game-winner..
Captain Clutch. 🚨🇨🇦#RivalrySeries | #OurGameIsBack | @pou29 pic.twitter.com/Yb3rC2KKDd
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 18, 2021
• Her second overtime winner in as many games. Maybe one of the most clutch hockey players on the planet.
• That will do it for today. Hope you enjoy your Saturday.
• We will see you tonight (I assume) for Blackhawks-Stars at 7:00 p.m. CT!
