Hawks' Seabrook to miss Friday's game
Since the 2006 season began, Brent Seabrook has missed a grand total of 11 games.
That number will tick up to 12, though, when the do-everything defenseman sits out Friday's tilt against the Rangers at the United Center with an upper-body injury he suffered during Tuesday's win over Arizona.
Coach Joel Quenneville said Seabrook is day-to-day, "and we'll go from there."
"It's tough to replace Seabs," said Niklas Hjalmarsson. "He's obviously one of a kind for us on and off the ice."
The Hawks will also be without Jonathan Toews for an eighth straight game, but Quenneville was hopeful his captain - and Seabrook - could return for Sunday's contest against Dallas.
Seabrook's remarkable consistency is something his teammates - and fans, for that matter - have taken for granted since he began his career in 2005. The veteran is a obviously a solid defender, but he's also a force on the power play, he possesses a wicked slap shot and has an uncanny ability to hit open wingers with stretch passes of 80, 100, even 120 feet.
"He's just a big body, too, to have out there to move people in the right directions," said Brian Campbell. "I've been lucky enough to play with him a little bit. He's always in position. ... He's a special player, that's for sure."
With Corey Crawford (appendectomy) also out, the Hawks will be without three key players against New York on Friday.
"But he should be back hopefully ... before Christmas," Campbell said of Crawford. "And Jonny hopefully soon, obviously. And Brent as well.
"Obviously you don't want to get too many more. But at least they're not something that's is earth-shattering (and) long term."
Big test:
No team has scored more goals than the Rangers, who have 99 after winning at Winnipeg on Thursday. Ten players have scored five or more times, with Michael Grabner's 13 leading the way.
Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling said he won't be any more pumped up for Friday's game than any other one, and that he isn't expecting a wildly high-scoring affair.
Said Darling: "We're a good team, too. So we're not going to give them the opportunities to showcase all their talent up front. But it's going to be a good game."
The Hawks haven't allowed 4 or more goals in eight straight contests.
Shoots, he scores:
The Blackhawks wanted Nick Schmaltz to start shooting the puck more and that's exactly what happened Thursday when Schmaltz scored 2 goals on 4 shots in Rockford's 3-2 overtime loss to San Antonio. It was Schmaltz's first game with the IceHogs since being reassigned Sunday.
Joel Quenneville said he talked with assistant general manager Norm Maciver and "they were extremely happy with how he played. He scored twice and there could've been more."
Rockford is at Texas for back-to-back games Friday and Saturday.
Scouting report
Blackhawks vs. New York Rangers at United Center, 7:30 p.m. Friday
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WGN 720-AM
The skinny: The Rangers were 13-4-0 on Nov. 15 but have gone just 5-5-1 since. Two of those losses came to Buffalo (10-10-6) and the Islanders (10-10-5). ... Michael Grabner (13 goals), Rick Nash (11) and Kevin Hayes (11) are the team's leading goal-scorers. Hayes scored with 1:09 left Thursday as the Rangers beat Winnipeg 2-1. ... The Hawks split their two games with New York last season with each team winning on the road. ... Scott Darling starts in net for the Hawks. ... Steve Larmer will be honored as the next participant in the Hawks' "One More Shift" promotion, which gives former players a chance to skate on the ice in full uniform before a select home game.
Next: Dallas Stars at United Center, 6 p.m. Sunday
- John Dietz