Update on Connor Murphy after scary incident

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Sam Hutch
March 13, 2022 (8:20)

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A scary incident occurred in a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night when a Chicago defender was stretchered off the ice early in the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Blackhawks defencemen Connor Murphy was hit from behind just 2:40 into the first period by Senators forward Parker Kelly. Kelly was assessed a 5-minute boarding major and a game misconduct as a result. As Murphy was being taken off the ice by training staff, he gave a thumbs up to the crowd.

Murphy, 28, has 4 goals and 6 assists in 56 games this season with Chicago. This season. Of note: Murphy missed three games earlier this season in early December with a concussion.

There's some good news to come out of this unfortunate situation; however, as the head coach of the Blackhawks, Derek King, confirmed, Connor Murphy travelled back with the team to Chicago last night.

Team Captain Jonathan Toews also shared this with Blackhawks reporter Ben Pope

It's hard not to be rattled. For a second, your focus is to get away from the game. It's hard to regroup and care about the game when...you really don't know if he's okay.

But I've heard he's okay since.

Was this type of hit avoidable by Kelly? In this instance, it's hard to say because Parker Kelly was committed to the hit, and it looked like Murphy was a little indecisive in what he wanted to do with the puck. Murphy also appeared to stumble as Kelly followed through with the hit putting him into a more dangerous position.