The Chicago Blackhawks are off to a solid start on the season, but they’ve been bitten by the injury bug as captain Nick Foligno heads to IR.
Foligno, who has six assists in 15 games for the Blackhawks this season, will be sidelined with a hand injury, the team announced Monday.
The move was made retroactively to November 15, according to the Blackhawks.
Foligno is in the second year of a two-year deal that he signed with the Blackhawks before last season, paying him $4.5 million per season.
The Blackhawks through 18 games are in the top wild card spot in the NHL’s Western Conference, with a 9-5-4 record and a plus-12 goal differential, which is second-best in the conference.
Fresh off a thrilling 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, the Blackhawks will next take the ice Tuesday when they welcome the Calgary Flames to the United Center. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. as the team continues a four-game homestand, with six of their next seven games on home ice.