The playoff series between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues hasn’t lacked intensity or excitement. These two teams are considered contenders in a stacked Western Conference and it’s possible that the physicality displayed so far can be a testament of how good the two teams are.
However, Brent Seabrook stepped a little bit over the line in the last game and he will be suspended for Chicago’s next three games during the playoffs after a vicious hit against Blues’ captain David Backes.
During the third period of Saturday’s game – a contest that ended up being decided in OT – Seabrook destroyed Backes with a huge hit near the wall. The action sent the Hawks’ defender to the penalty box and Backes went straight to the locker room to receive treatment. The NHL took cards in the matter and now the Hawks won’t see one of their better defenders in – potentially – the reminder of the series.
Seabrook has been a key component of Chicago’s blue-line this year. The 29-year-old defender had 41 points in the regular season and scored twice already in the series against the Blues so it’s likely he will be missed against a tough rival like St. Louis.