Chicago will be without one of its most constant presences tonight against Calgary.
Andrew Shaw is out with an upper-body injury, head coach Joel Quenneville confirmed. This will be the first game Shaw has missed this year and just the third he’s missed over the last three seasons -- the 23-year-old played all 48 during the lockout-shortened ’13 campaign and 80 of 82 last year, no small feat for someone that plays such a physical brand of hockey.
“One place we’ll miss him most on is the net-front presence on the power play. He seemed to grow into that job and he’s been awesome at it. Someone will have to step up and fill the role,” Patrick Kane said of Shaw, per CSN Chicago. “A lot of guys are looking for more ice time, so it’s an opportunity for them.
“Collectively we’ll build up and take care of it. It’s like when we lost [Patrick Sharp]: it’s not one guy who comes in and steps up. As a group, you have to fill in the next couple of days.”
Jeremy Morin will be the guy looking to step up in Shaw’s absence, as he’ll fill the empty spot on front. On defense, another young ‘Hawk will get to stepping -- Adam Clendening, the 22-year-old taken 36th overall at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He’ll make his big-league debut tonight in place of the injured Trevor van Riemsdyk.
