The Chicago Blackhawks will be short two key defensemen on Friday night against the San Jose Sharks. Looking to snap their 6-game losing streak, the Blackhawks will need extra production from their reserves as D Steve Montador and now D Niklas Hjalmarsson will miss the game with upper body injuries.
Hjalmarsson has averaged 20:32 on the ice per game, ranking fourth among the Chicago defensemen. The 24-year-old Hjalmarsson sports a +5 plus/minus and 2.1 defensive point shares, good for third on the team.
With Steve Montado placed on the IR, the Blackhawks will likely ask recently-called-up D Dylan Olsen to contribute immediately to the very short-handed Hawks. Chicago is hoping to break a their losing streak, in which the defense has allowed 4.5 goals per game, facing a Sharks team on its own two-game slide.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this matchup, visit Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey and Sharks blog Fear The Fin. For more from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NHL news hub.