The Chicago Blackhawks are feeling the effects of Covid. The NHL has canceled Chicago’s games versus Columbus on Tuesday and has also postponed their game Wednesday versus the Winnipeg Jets. Chicago did, however, return to practice on Monday. With Chicago returning to the ice, they would also get Covid tested for the first time since the pause. These tests would result in Calvin DeHaan coming of the Covid list, but just as the good news broke, so did the bad news. Marc-Andre Fleury was placed in Covid protocols.
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With the news about Fleury, the Blackhawks would make some roster moves. Chicago has called up goaltender Collin Delia from the Rockford IceHogs. Delia has had an okay season so far in the minors posting a 4-4-1 record with a .907 SV% and a GAA of 2.86. Delia will be looking to make the most of this look in the NHL after finding himself back in the minors this season after Lankinen broke out last season. Lankinen has not been good this season in the NHL, with a GAA of 3.43 and an SV% of .884. Can Delia make the most of his opportunity and take over the backup role? Probably not, but this is an excellent chance for Delia to pressure Lankinen to start performing.
Chicago AHL team is in the middle of a significant Covid outbreak. Today alone, they would announce that Ian Mitchell, Nicolas Beaudin, Carson Gicewicz, D.J. Busdeker, Garrett Mitchell, Dimitri Osipov, Mike Hardman, and interim head coach Anders Sorensen have all been placed in Covid protocol. This could affect the way the Blackhawks use their taxi squad. a taxi squad that had Brett Connolly put on it today. Connolly is the first player that Chicago has placed on the taxi squad.
With all the news breaking today, the Blackhawks aren’t scheduled to hit the ice until the new year. Chicago is scheduled to play the Nashville Predators on January; first, let’s all hope this game won’t be postponed as well.
