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Out Cold
December 8, 2021, 2:37 AM ET [186 Comments]
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSS • Archive • CONTACT

Despite the Blackhawks losing in a 6-2 blowout at the hands of the Rangers, the result of the game paled in comparison to the hit that Jacob Trouba laid on Jujhar Khaira to knock him out cold to the point where he had to be stretchered off the ice.

Although one Hawks player tentatively went after Trouba after the hit, it wasn't until minutes later when Riley Stillman threw down with him. While Stillman lost the fight, that also didn't matter as the act of sticking up for a fallen teammate was more important.

Another storyline that didn't play out was Marc-Andre Fleury earning his 500th career win after notching his 900th game played on Sunday versus the Islanders. Fleury had a few outstanding saves but the team in front of him failed to give him goal support.

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Blackhawks Game Summary

Starting Lineup

Hagel - Toews - Kane
DeBrincat - Dach - Strome
Kubalik - Borgstrom - R Johnson
Khaira - Slavin - Carpenter

de Haan - S Jones
Stillman - Gustafsson
Kalynuk - Mitchell

Fleury
Lankinen

Scratches:
C Jones, McCabe, Murphy

Scoring Recap

1st Goal (0-1): Trouba (Panarin, R Strome)
2nd Goal (1-1): Gustafsson (unassisted)
3rd Goal (2-1): Dach (DeBrincat, D Strome)
4th Goal (2-2): Panarin (Zibanejad, Kreider) PP
5th Goal (2-3): Kreider (Fox, Panarin) PP
6th Goal (2-4): Rooney (Fox, Reaves)
7th Goal (2-5): Panarin (Trouba, Zibanejad) EN
8th Goal (2-6): Goodrow (Reaves, Rooney)

SOG For/Against: 26/30
PP: 0-for-4
PK: 0-for-2
Faceoffs Won: 56%


Game Notes

* The first goal by the Rangers was a real-time flashback to the Jeremy Colliton era as it was a head scratcher why no one challenged Trouba who had so much time and space to launch a rocket for the marker.

* Kirby Dach finally got off the schneid with his first goal in 17 games after a Dylan Strome faceoff win; both forwards are starting to surge offensively.

* Henrik Borgstrom displayed some sleek stickhandling on several offensive cycles followed up with nifty passes; alas, all of that work resulted in zero goals.

* Ian Mitchell turned in yet another defensively reliable game; what's been impressive is that he doesn't get wooed into venturing behind the net or into the corners as he knows his priority is to protect the crease.

* Wyatt Kalynuk was neither good nor bad defensively; while his passing needs to be sharper, he showed he can escape the zone with the puck but needs to have those rushes be more productive.

Highlights

Goal by Erik Gustafsson

Goal by Kirby Dach

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Jujhar Khaira

According to head coach Derek King on Khaira's status: "He's up. He's talking. He's very responsive." King stated that Khaira wants to get back on the ice but needs to do more tests at Northwestern Memorial Hospital today after doing some tests last night.

Initial Team Update

Hit by Jacob Trouba

Fist Bumps for Riley Stillman

Update from Derek King

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Trade Rumors

None of the names rumored to be on the trade block are a surprise as this list includes Fleury, Strome, Ryan Carpenter, and Calvin de Haan. All are pending free agents, too. Other pending free agents include Dach, Dominik Kubalik, and Kevin Lankinen.

Of the 4 rumored to be on the market, none of them are expected to be back next season regardless of whether any trades go down. Then of the other pending free agents, Dach is for certain to be re-signed while Lankinen is most likely to get a renewed deal as well.

Kubalik isn't a given to return as he could bring back a decent return via a hockey trade (i.e. roster player for roster player) or trade for futures whether a high draft pick, prospect with high NHL potential, or a package of a mid-range pick and prospect.

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IceHogs Updates

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