After touching down in Berlin, Germany on Friday, head coach Jeremy Colliton announced that Connor Murphy and Zack Smith will be out of the lineup in Chicago’s preseason finale against Eisbären on Sunday. Murphy and Smith (lower back) are nursing minor tweaks.
Since Adam Boqvist was assigned to the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL, one of the storylines to follow in Berlin is the seventh defenseman competition that’s now down to Dennis Gilbert, Slater Koekkoek and Carl Dahlstrom. With Murphy out on Sunday and Calvin de Haan still rehabbing from a groin injury, it will be worth noting which two defenseman Colliton gives playing time.
More Updates from Day 1 in Berlin:
- The Blackhawks had their first practice at Mercedes-Benz Arena. Here’s a clip of a nice dish by Patrick Kane in 4-on-4 drills:/
That pass? Das ist gut.#BlackhawksAbroad pic.twitter.com/Gww8OEBNai
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 27, 2019
- Lehner left Tuesday’s practice with a right-hip injury, but was back on the ice Friday. /
Robin Lehner and Kirby Dach are on the ice for the Blackhawks practice in Berlin.
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) September 27, 2019
- Kirby Dach has been in concussion protocol since being boarded in the Traverse City Prospect Tournament on Sept. 10:/
The nasty boarding penalty that sent Kirby Dach to the locker room. #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/AiNSwgm8KL
— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) September 10, 2019
Dach is ‘unlikely’ to play in either of the two games in Europe, but the fact he is practicing with the team is a good sign he could be removed from concussion protocol in the near future.