NEWSLETTER
Less than two minutes into the first period of Tuesday night’s Blackhawks-Islanders game at the United Center, Islanders forward Casey Cizikas plowed into Chicago netminder Alex Stalock. Stalock remained down on the ice for a bit before the Blackhawks’ medical staff helped him to his feet and off the ice.
That’s not good — especially when Petr Mrazek is already on IR. Arvid Söderblom came into the game and the Blackhawks were officially on EBUG alert.
Cizikas was assessed a five-minute major penalty for goaltender interference and a game misconduct for the hit — both well deserved. Unfortunately the Blackhawks failed to score on the five-minute advantage.
Any injury to Stalock could put the Blackhawks in an incredibly tough situation. Jaxson Stauber got hurt in the IceHogs’ blowout win over the weekend and Mrazek isn’t ready yet. Mrazek, Stalock, Stauber and Söderblom are the only four goaltenders under contract with the Blackhawks organization right now… so three of them being hurt at the same time would require a new body to get signed by the NHL club.
