Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy left about 3 minutes into Saturday’s road game against the Ottawa Senators with an apparent head injury.
The Hawks also lost Tyler Johnson to an injury in the first period, but despite those early setbacks they went on to win, 6-3, at Canadian Tire Centre, thanks in part to two goals each from Jonathan Toews and Caleb Jones.
The sequence of Murphy’s injury began in the Hawks offensive zone with Brandon Hagel rimming the puck and Murphy dropping down to retrieve it. Senators rookie winger Parker Kelly drilled into Murphy’s back, and Murphy’s head slammed into the glass.
Murphy collapsed, then his head slumped to the ice. Erik Gustafsson and others waved for medical staff to come quickly.
During a five-minute delay, Murphy was immobilized and lifted onto a stretcher as teammates knelt and others from both sides showed concerned.
Murphy gave a thumbs up as he was taken off the ice to players’ stick taps and applause from the crowd.
Kelly was issued a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.
On Dec. 3, Murphy entered the concussion protocol a day after Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin checked him into the boards. Murphy missed three games.
According to the NBC Sports Chicago broadcast, Johnson also exited the game after the first period. He took a puck to the ear and was placed into the concussion protocol.
Meanwhile, Patrick Kane set up Toews for the Hawks’ first goal a minute into the second period. The assist moved Kane into second place on the franchise’s all-time points list with 1,154, breaking a tie with Bobby Hull. Stan Mikita leads with 1,467.
The game started off in the Senators’ favor, with Ottawa taking a 2-0 lead in the first period.
Perhaps the Hawks were still a bit shellshocked after Murphy’s injury: The Sens scored a short-handed goal during the Hawks’ five-minute power play.
Later in the period, Dylan Strome committed a turnover while trying to dump the puck into the neutral zone. Thomas Chabot gloved it, moved into the slot and fired the puck past Marc-André Fleury to make it 2-0.
The second period looked like a blast from the past with Kane and Toews leading a comeback.
Toews’ goal 58 seconds into the period gave Kane his 47th assist and his historic 1,154th point. About a minute and half later, Kane and Toews connected again to give Toews his first multigoal game of the season.
Jones made it three Hawks goals in a row — but with a twist.
Jones and his brother, Seth, first-time teammates this season, connected for a goal for the first time in their careers, with Seth credited with the primary assist.
The Senators’ Nick Paul evened the score 3-3, but Sam Lafferty answered 8 seconds later with his third goal of the season.
Caleb Jones padded the Hawks’ lead in the third period with his second goal of the game — his first career multigoal effort — and Strome all but sealed it with his seventh goal in the last five games.
Strome also registered his sixth consecutive game with a point.
