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Brent Seabrook is out for tonight’s Game 4 against Vancouver; Torres fallout?

Vancouver Canucks v Chicago Blackhawks - Game Three

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 17: of the Chicago Blackhawks of the Vancouver Canucks in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center on April 17, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Jonathan Daniel

When Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook was blindsided by Vancouver forward Raffi Torres we were sure that Seabrook would be toast for the game after that kind of blow to the head. Instead, Seabrook popped right back up and played the rest of the game even after game officials double-checked on him to make sure he was set to play.

Today, it turns out that Seabrook isn’t feeling too hot and he’ll be out of the lineup tonight for Game 4 against Vancouver. While Torres wasn’t suspended for his hit and will likely play again tonight, we’re sure that if Torres runs across Seabrook’s potential replacement on the blue line, John Scott, the exchange of pleasantries won’t be so cordial.

CSN Chicago’s Tracey Myers tells us that it wasn’t Seabrook’s head that was giving him problems so much as it was everything else following the hit.

Addressing the media yesterday, Seabrook said “the rest of his body” was feeling the effects of that hit more than his head. But apparently the defenseman’s health took a turn overnight. Asked if Seabrook was more sore today, coach Joel Quenneville said “we don’t disclose everything but sore could mean a lot of things.”

Read into that what you will but given the head shots Seabrook took from Torres as well as from Justin Abdelkader in the final game of the season, it’s no wonder that Seabrook is sitting this one out.

On the upside for Chicago, they’ll officially get Dave Bolland back in the lineup after missing the last few weeks with a concussion of his own. It was speculated yesterday that he would be back in and Joel Quenneville confirmed it today.

Of course, the elephant in the room here is what, if anything, will happen with Torres back out on the ice. It’s the playoffs of course so that means the chances of shenanigans breaking loose are reduced, but with Chicago a loss away from being eliminated from the playoffs should Vancouver build a big lead the officials are going to have to be vigilant to make sure nothing ugly breaks out. After all, a desperate team that feels wronged is dangerous. Here’s to hoping the series doesn’t turn ugly in what’s potentially its final game.