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The Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat

 

Blackhawks’ Shaw must wait on word from NHL

CHICAGO — Andrew Shaw had his hearing with the NHL discipline honchos Monday. Apparently an agonizing wait is part of the punishment.

The Chicago Blackhawks rookie winger reportedly won’t learn until Tuesday if he’ll absorb any additional sanctions for a shoulder-to-head collision with Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith in Game 2 on Saturday.

“I’ll respect the outcome,” Shaw said before the hearing. “It’s their decision. They’ve been doing such a great job thus far. They know what’s appropriate.

“I watched the replay. Like I said, I’m a little upset I made contact. I didn’t try to. I tried getting out of the way. That last minute of his head coming forward kind of looked bad.”

Smith didn’t practice Monday, and Coyotes coach Dave Tippett didn’t elaborate on his status. The goalie’s Game 3 availability might be a factor in Shaw’s case. But if Smith starts, the Hawks feel Shaw’s five-minute major and half-game ejection sufficed.

“We lost a player for the rest of the game, and they didn’t,” captain Jonathan Toews said. “I don’t think the intent was there at all. The effort to get out of the way and avoid the head contact was enough. Their goaltender is healthy; he’s fine. He played well for the rest of the game. That’s the main thing.”

OFF ICE: Smith wasn’t the only one idled in Arizona on Monday. Center Martin Hanzal and forward Lauri Korpikoski reportedly missed practice.

“Our health is just fine,” Tippett said. “We have everybody under evaluation, and that’s where we’re at. That’s not a concern of ours.”

Asked specifically about Smith’s off day, Tippett snapped: “I told you we’re not talking about injuries. He’s fine.”

FOURTH DOWN: Marcus Kruger received high praise for centering a second line that powered the Hawks in the stretch run, only to get shuffled to the fourth line after a Game 2 rearrangement that likely will continue into Game 3.

“We didn’t play good enough, and of course they wanted to change stuff,” Kruger said. “Things like that are going to happen all the time. You just try to stay focused and play your game.”

ONETIMERS: Defenseman Steve Montador skated solo Monday as he recovers from concussions that have sidelined him for 29 of the past 30 games. … The Hawks recalled 19-year-old forward Brandon Saad and five players from AHL Rockford: forwards Jeremy Morin and Brandon Pirri, defensemen Joe Lavin and Ryan Stanton, and goalie Carter Hutton.

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