Blackhawks' Panik reportedly oversleeps, scratched versus Lightning
Chicago Blackhawks forward Richard Panik's favorable impression with his new team could be in jeopardy after he reportedly overslept and showed up late for Thursday's morning skate.
Coach Joel Quenneville promptly ruled out Panik for the Stanley Cup rematch pitting the red-hot Blackhawks (32-13-4) against the Tampa Bay Lightning (25-17-4), who have won six in a row. The coach told reporters that seven defensemen are expected to suit up for Chicago, which has won a franchise-best 12 games in a row to race to the top of the Western Conference.
Panik overslept, so he sits tonight. #Blackhawks will go with seven D. Sekac unlikely to get in tonight. Could play tomorrow.
— Tracey Myers (@TramyersCSN) January 21, 2016
After arriving late for the 11:30 a.m. session, Panik was left to skate by himself on Thursday as Quenneville tried to keep his composure. Via Chicago Tribune:
"It's too fresh right now to really assess it."
Panik scored in the Blackhawks' 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday and again two nights later in a 4-1 triumph over the Nashville Predators.
How do you oversleep in this day and age? Hotel wake-up calls, hotel clocks, smart-phone clocks. Lord. #Blackhawks
— Tracey Myers (@TramyersCSN) January 21, 2016
The 24-year-old also notched an assist in his five games since being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 3.
