OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks lost another key player when Frank Nazar took a puck to the face during Saturday's game. defeat with a score of 6-4 and Ottawa.
Nazar headed straight to the locker room after being hit by a shot from Senators defenseman Jordan Spence about five minutes into the game. Coach Jeff Blashill declined to provide any details about the injury but said Nazar would be sidelined for approximately four weeks.
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“You saw the play,” Blashill said. “He was hit right in the face.”
Chicago was no longer without Connor Bedard, who had 19 goals and 25 assists. Bédard missed his fourth straight game with a right shoulder injury that will sideline the 20-year-old center until at least early January.
Captain Nick Foligno has not played since November 15 with a hand injury but could return soon.
“One of the things that leads to consistency is depth, and so our depth gets tested,” Blashill said. “So the guys in those roles have to ultimately play at a higher level. The more time you play in the bigger roles, the better you have to play. And that's a challenge. And that's not easy.”
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“As a group, we need to get more from more guys. We've talked about it and we'll continue to talk about it.”
Nazar, who turns 22 on Jan. 14, has six goals and 15 assists in 33 games. The 2022 first-round draft center agreed. contract extension for seven years in August.
Chicago and Ottawa were tied at 3 after two periods, but David Perron scored twice in the third for the Senators.
It was the Blackhawks' fifth straight loss. They fall to 3-11-2 in their last 16 games.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
