On Tuesday morning before the morning skate the Chicago Blackhawks announced goaltender Alex Stalock is in concussion protocol. The release from the team would only say that he won’t practice today; he was supposed to be the starting goaltender when the Blackhawks face the Buffalo Sabres tonight at the United Center.
Goaltender Jaxson Stauber has been recalled from the Rockford IceHogs to cover the back-up duties. Petr Mrazek was working in the starter’s net during the morning skate.
Stalock was on the wrong end of an awkward hit at practice yesterday that may have been the cause for this trip back into the protocol. Concussions suck — I’ve had a few in my life — and the symptoms can show up however and whenever they want, unfortunately. Hopefully Stalock can get right before too long; he missed six weeks after suffering the first concussion of his career against the Islanders at the start of November.