Gilbert will make sure there's a price to pay for opponents taking liberties with best players

LAS VEGAS — Dennis Gilbert doesn't want to be known as a fighter.

Or a goon. Or a thug.

But when the Blackhawks defenseman feels one of his teammates has taken a cheap shot, he's going to do something about it.

Such was the case when Arizona's Jason Demers checked Alex DeBrincat into the boards Sunday at the United Center. When no penalty was called, Gilbert tracked down Demers and threw the gloves off for the second time in as many games.

“I thought it was a dirty hit and (DeBrincat's) numbers were showing,” said Gilbert, who was a third-round pick of the Hawks in 2015 and played in his fourth straight game Tuesday at Vegas. “And he (still) decided to follow through and make the hit.”

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Gilbert, who landed a couple of haymakers that found their mark on the 6-1, 195-pound Demers, was whistled for misconduct (10 minutes), fighting (5) and instigator (2) penalties. The Coyotes scored on the ensuing power play to tie the game at 3-3 and went on to win in a shootout.

Despite the end result, Gilbert firmly believes that if you don't hold opponents accountable — and right away — then they'll continue taking liberties with your best players.

And captain Jonathan Toews couldn't agree more.

“Over the last couple years we've had a lot of situations where things like that go unpunished,” Toews said. “In a game where we're getting a ton of penalties, it's easy to criticize that play.

“But I was behind Gilly 100 percent because that's a statement to each other when one of our top players gets smacked ... that's what we're all about as a team and that's how we have to keep playing.”

Gilbert is the oldest of three kids and had a father who worked for the FBI and is now a retired Buffalo police officer. Coming from a Catholic family and going to a Catholic school all his life helped instill certain priorities Gilbert carries with him to this day.

“Those little Bible teachings have really sunk through to me,” Gilbert said. “It's not like I've been running around like Superman on the streets saving lives. But at holiday time, my family would always try to do stuff to help out the community, and I've always tried to look out for other people.”

Gilbert, who is getting this opportunity due to multiple ailments on the blue line, spent three unforgettable seasons at Notre Dame (2015-18) before beginning his pro career in Rockford last season.

“I miss it,” Gilbert said of South Bend. “It was an amazing place. We had really tight teams there. Similar to here — it was like 25 best friends.

“People would laugh at us. You knew the hockey team was walking around because there was always 12 of us in a pack, walking through campus to class or practice or going to lunch.”

Gilbert had 5 goals and 9 assists in 63 games for the IceHogs last season, then really stood out with the Hawks during training camp. He dropped the gloves with noted goon Giavani Smith during a preseason game with Detroit, then made the opening-night roster and played nearly 15 minutes against Philadelphia in Prague.

Gilbert got another brief look in late October when Connor Murphy was injured and has now re-entered the lineup with Duncan Keith (groin) and Olli Maatta (flu) out.

In addition to showing off his fighting skills, Gilbert also has shown quite a knack for crunching opponents with bone-rattling hits. He'd racked up 26 of them in six games before Tuesday.

“I definitely take pride in being hard to play against and making other teams' best players miserable,” Gilbert said. “And on top of that, I think I've done a good job of using my skating to help move the puck a little bit more, kind of creating some different passing lanes for myself and using my partner.

“I've just felt a lot more comfortable this time. I'm not always worried about who can I get it to right away. (Now) I just look for the right play and make it.”

It certainly has impressed coach Jeremy Colliton, who believes Gilbert has a pretty bright NHL future.

“He's not afraid. He can keep the puck carrier honest out there,” Colliton said. “They've got to be aware when he's on the ice. That's good for our team.

“He's one of those guys we think can contribute for us hopefully for a long time to come.”