Calgary’s Rene Bourque hit with 2-game suspension for hit on Brent Seabrook

Seeing Calgary’s Rene Bourque suspended for two games for his hit from behind on Brent Seabrook wasn’t the best news the Blackhawks received on Monday.

Better than that was Seabrook being able to accompany the team to Pittsburgh for Tuesday’s game against the Penguins.

Seabrook certainly wouldn’t have been allowed to fly if he had a serious concussion. There even seems to be a good change he will play Tuesday, or why go at all?

Brendan Shanahan, the NHL’s chief of player safety, suspended Bourque two games for the hit from behind into the boards Sunday that knocked Seabrook out of the game late in the first period.

“He finishes Seabrook high and forcefully from behind,” Shanahan said. “The onus is on Bourque to avoid the hit completely, or at least minimize it when he sees his opponent is in a vulnerable position.”

Shanahan admitted the referee contributed to the play when he got in Seabrook’s way, causing the defenseman to lose the puck and look back, but that Bourque had time to stop his forward motion.

The suspension might have been more severe except for two factors that Shanahan admitted he took into consideration.

“We took into account Seabrook suffered no apparent injury because of the hit ... and it’s important to note Bourque has never been fined or suspended in seven seasons in the NHL,” Shanahan said.

With Shanahan disclosing that Seabrook suffered no apparent injury, it’s possible the Hawks shared with him a health update. All the team announced Monday about Seabrook’s condition was that he was going to Pittsburgh.

About (Hammer) time:Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson felt a relief when he saw his first goal of the season go into the net Sunday.Hjalmarsson had gone the first 31 games without a goal.#147;It felt good to have luck on my side for once,#148; Hjalmarsson said. #147;It#146;s no fun to see no goals next to your name after 30 games.#148;It has been noticeable that Hjalmarsson has been making a point to shoot the puck more from the point.#147;I#146;m trying to get as many shots as possible,#148; Hjalmarsson said. #147;I have a pretty good shot, but it#146;s tough sometimes to find the net. It gives you confidence when you score.#148;Hjalmarsson has been one of the Hawks#146; better defenders of late and came out of the weekend tied with Winnipeg#146;s Mark Stuart for first in the NHL in blocked shots with 89.Watching Hossa:Penguins coach Dan Bylsma has watched enough Hawks games this season to know how dangerous Marian Hossa can be with the puck.#147;It#146;s tough to defend him,#148; Bylsma said Monday. #147;You see his power and skill in the offensive zone, to say you#146;re going to minimize that effectiveness is a tough thing.#147;The best thing to have success is hem him on the outside, keep him on the boards as much as possible. He#146;s going to have the puck. When he#146;s on the inside and getting to the middle of the ice, he#146;s almost impossible to handle.#148;Appreciating Quenneville:Speaking as a fellow coach, the Penguins#146; Dan Bylsma appreciates the milestone Joel Quenneville reached Sunday by recording his 600th career win.#147;I#146;ve got 200 games and he#146;s got 600 wins,#148; Bylsma said. #147;It#146;s an amazing number. That#146;s longevity and a long career and a lot of wins.#147;I might have white hair too when I get to 600 wins.#148;Tip-ins:Because of the upper-body injury that has kept him out of the last two games, Daniel Carcillo did not make the trip to Pittsburgh. ... With his sixth straight win Sunday, goalie Ray Emery improved his personal line to 9-1-2 with a 2.50 goals-against average and .909 save percentage.