Brandon Saad’s
whirlwind season continues to swirl.
After a dazzling training camp that won the then-18-year-old a roster spot, followed by a two-game stint to start the regular season before being sent to Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League, Saad is back with the Blackhawks.
Now 19, Saad is likely to be in the lineup for Game 4 against the Coyotes on Thursday night as a replacement for the injured
Marian Hossa
.
“I’m really excited to be here,” said Saad, who was recalled Monday but figured to serve as a member of the non-playing “Black Aces” before Hossa’s injury. “It was a great year. I went back to Saginaw. We weren’t the best team on paper, but we played really well. It’s been a really exciting year for me, (and) I’m glad to be back.”
Saad flourished in Saginaw, leading the OHL with an average of 1.73 points over 44 regular-season games. He said opening the season with the Hawks was beneficial.
“Being here helped me tremendously with my season,” Saad said. “I went back and led the way there. I just keep improving my game and not put my head down. (The NHL) is a tough league to make, and I did a great job while I was here but just had to go back and work hard.”
Fact check:
Andrew Shaw
said he “was a little upset” when he heard the news Tuesday he was suspended for three games for his Game 2 hit on Coyotes goaltender
Mike Smith
.
“That’s the punishment, and I can’t do anything about it now,” Shaw said. “I just have to stay level-headed and move on from here.”
Shaw said he accepted the decision by NHL disciplinarian
Brendan Shanahan
as the league looks to crack down on illegal checks, especially to goalies.
“They don’t want to make players miss opportunities given to them, so they talked it over and watched tape and that’s what they came to as a fair punishment,” Shaw said.
Shaw can return only if the series reaches six games.
“I want another chance,” he said. “It would be great to see the boys win. I know we can win Game 4 and take that excitement into Game 5.”
Shea started it:
Veteran
Ray Whitney
conceded that the $2,500 fine levied on the Predators’
Shea Weber
for smashing Red Wings forward
Henrik Zetterberg’s
face into the glass might have emboldened players elsewhere and caused the relative havoc in this postseason.
“Hits are one thing,” Whitney said. “Those happen at high speed, and you certainly can’t come in at full speed and stop in a 2-foot radius. But smashing a guy’s head into the boards, I’d say it sets a precedent a little bit when it’s just a fine on that one.”
Personnel matters:
Coyotes coach
Dave Tippett
said forwards
Martin Hanzal
and
Lauri Korpikoski
, who missed Game 3, are “day-to-day” and will be evaluated Thursday morning.
