Happy Friday 🥳 pic.twitter.com/WK1kEtxXLb

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 15, 2021

It's only the second game of the new season so there's no better time than now for the Blackhawks to hit the reset button after dropping the opener against the Avalanche on Wednesday. Time to start fresh with a tilt versus the Devils this evening in Newark.

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

Thankfully Kirby Dach is fine after getting dangerously railroaded by Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog in the 3rd period of the season opener on Wednesday. Landeskog received a 2-game suspension for boarding plus forfeits $70,000 of his salary.

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:

🏒#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.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 14, 2021

Not only are the Hawks actively attempting to trade Dylan Strome, they are also aiming to ship out Andrew Shaw's contract which is currently on LTIR and worth $3.9M AAV. No rumors yet on what a possible return would be. Perhaps there's a Strome-Shaw package deal to be had?

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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

With Alec Regula healthy after being out with a back injury during most of Blackhawks training camp, there's no surprise for his reassignment to the IceHogs. He should play top 4 on the Rockford blueline along with Nicolas Beaudin, Jakub Galvas, and Chad Krys.

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!

Join us for a Fiesta Friday Watch Party at the @BMOHarrisCenter!

⏰ 6pm CT
📍 Grand Rapids, MI
📻 https://t.co/FHLGZDbsrA
📱 IceHogs app
📝: https://t.co/FA1xfn4Ixu pic.twitter.com/a3ucMgHJoz

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 15, 2021

The IceHogs begin the 2021-22 season tonight against the division rival Griffins (Red Wings AHL affiliate) in Grand Rapids. Tomorrow, the Hogs head back to Chicagoland with a game at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont to take on the bitter enemy Wolves (Hurricanes AHL affiliate).

Final Roster

The 2021-22 season starts TONIGHT in Grand Rapids and we have announced our 31-player #OpeningNight roster!

Full Roster: https://t.co/xKNUdsO8lA pic.twitter.com/rMcGu5G6dB

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 15, 2021

The Hogs final roster is set. Although not surprising, the most prominent cut is Louis Crevier who should be playing one last season in juniors. Chad Yetman is another notable cut and likely headed to the ECHL. Carrying 4 goalies will be an interesting split of starts.

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!

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