Last night, Chicago Blackhawks fans were treated to an unusual sight in a game between the Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning. No, I’m not referring to the men in the Indian Head finally losing a game, though that has been unusual (and nonexistent) in recent weeks. I’m instead referring to the insertion of defenseman Rob Scuderi in the lineup as a fourth-line forward.
This was the result of the recently acquired Richard Panik oversleeping the morning practice, resulting in his healthy scratching from the game. And so, the Blackhawks — who did not yet have Jiri Sekac, who was received in a trade that sent Ryan Garbutt to Anaheim earlier this week — were forced to roll with a fourth line of Brandon Mashinter, Dennis Rasmussen and Scuderi.