Happy Friday 🥳 pic.twitter.com/WK1kEtxXLb
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 15, 2021
This time, the Hawks can't start the game with no jump, no fight, and no structure. If they repeat what happened in the season opener, they'll be playing with fire and cause a heap of trouble for themselves with little to no defensive containment or offensive generation.
The Hawks need to perpetuate the habit of hustling and getting after the puck shift after shift and in every zone. Win or lose, the focus is on putting in maximum effort to compete hard and make the opponent earn every inch of ice. Defend intelligently and attack in waves.
Lineup changes:
* Kevin Lankinen gets the start tonight while Marc-Andre Fleury will play versus the Penguins tomorrow.
* Adam Gaudette draws in for Ryan Carpenter.
* Erik Gustafsson takes Ian Mitchell's spot on D.
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Dach & DeBrincat
Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog will have a hearing for boarding #Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/PCFOv8S0Nf
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) October 14, 2021
Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog has been suspended for two games for Boarding Chicago’s Kirby Dach. https://t.co/glWKL7DAgq
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 14, 2021
Alex DeBrincat also seems to be okay after a scare late in the game appearing to temporarily hurt his forearm around the wrist. He was able to stay in the game after sitting a spell on the bench. Hopefully there's no minor injury that will linger or get worse.
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Andrew Shaw
Mentioned in our mini Ice Breakers 🧊 segment today on DFO Show:
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 14, 2021
🏒#Blackhawks are actively trying to move Andrew Shaw's contract (LTIR, $3.9m AAV, contract insured).
🏒@HockeyHallFame moving forward w/ induction ceremony plans for Class of 2020 on Nov. 15 at Meridian Hall.
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Alec Regula
#Blackhawks have activated Alec Regula (lower back) off injured reserve and assigned the defenseman to @goicehogs. https://t.co/anI7JHLtTd
— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) October 14, 2021
However, once Wyatt Kalynuk returns from his ankle injury, he is expected to take Mitchell's spot on the Chicago blueline. Mitchell would then join the Hogs and supplant one of Beaudin, Galvas, Krys, or Regula and bump them to the 3rd pair.
Even though Regula has progressed from last season with a confidence boost to carry the mail and create offense, he still needs to push the pace more and show a greater compete level in his own end. When he exerts himself, though, he's proven to be effective.
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IceHogs Season Opener
Hockey is BACK! We open the 2021-22 season tonight vs. @griffinshockey!
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 15, 2021
Join us for a Fiesta Friday Watch Party at the @BMOHarrisCenter!
â° 6pm CT
📠Grand Rapids, MI
📻 https://t.co/FHLGZDbsrA
📱 IceHogs app
📝: https://t.co/FA1xfn4Ixu pic.twitter.com/a3ucMgHJoz
Final Roster
The 2021-22 season starts TONIGHT in Grand Rapids and we have announced our 31-player #OpeningNight roster!
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 15, 2021
Full Roster: https://t.co/xKNUdsO8lA pic.twitter.com/rMcGu5G6dB
Here's one last stab at a projected starting lineup taking into account Alex Nylander and Brett Connolly:
Nylander - Reichel - Morrison Teply - Barratt - Altybarmakian Slavin - McLaughlin - Hardman Pour - Johnson - Connolly Wilkie - Gicewicz - Busdeker Mitchell - Howarth - Osipov
Beaudin - Regula Krys - Galvas Phillips - Stanton LeGuerrier - Krutil Watson
Subban Delia Soderblom Morris
Shuttle between Rockford and Indy:
Forwards * Liam Folkes * Riley McKay * Chad Yetman
Defensemen * D.J. King
Goalies * Tom Aubrun
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See you on the boards!