Watch: Nick Schmaltz loses skate blade, Artemi Panarin helps him off the ice
That’s one way to help out your teammate.
Chicago Blackhawks rookie Nick Schmaltz had some struggles early in the second period against the Ducks on Thursday at United Center. Schmaltz lost his skate blade after being checked by Anaheim’s Josh Manson.
This is how he lost it. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/974m39SdPJ
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) March 10, 2017
Nick Schmaltz loses a skate blade, Panarin helps him off the ice. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/D0lyjMzAWS
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) March 10, 2017
Schmaltz then proceeded to try to get off the ice by hopping and crawling to the bench. Artemi Panarin gave him an assist with his stick to his rear end to push him along. Some other Hawks that were on the bench offered their sticks for Schmaltz to grab out to, but Panarin’s push was enough to get Schmaltz to safety on the bench.
Once on the bench, Patrick Kane had a chuckle and probably gave the rookie a hard time about the incident.
Kane got a good chuckle out of it. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/IaWtLJHz9v
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) March 10, 2017
Schmaltz, who has six goals and 13 assists in 45 games this season, has revitalized his game during the past two months while playing alongside Jonathan Toews and Richard Panik since he returned from a stint with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.
