Oliver Moore escapes serious injury after knee-on-knee hit vs Predators

The hit came hard and fast, and it looked fishy from the bench. Moore went down, and the ice looked frozen for a moment.

The collision triggered a chaotic scrum, and teammates rushed in to defend him.

One of those teammates, Colton Dach, threw down the gloves in Moore's defense. Dach's reaction showed just how protective Chicago's locker room is of their rising young forward.

Moore managed to skate off under his own power. Team staff took a quick look, and after evaluation, he avoided anything that looked like a long-term injury.

Moore is just 20 years old and still carving out a place with the Chicago Blackhawks this season.

He was originally recalled due to a teammate's long-term injury earlier in November and has since cemented his name in Chicago's lineup.

Before the hit, Moore had already shown why he belongs. Since being recalled in early November from the AHL, he has stood out with strong skating and quick plays that generate danger. His numbers at 5-on-5 reflect that impact: good shot and high-danger chance rate while on the ice.

As physical as the moment looked, Moore showed his resilience by staying in the game and out of long-term trouble.

Dach's willingness to drop the gloves for him resonated with many as a sign this team believes in protecting its rising talent.

The Blackhawks need Moore's speed and instincts as they try to climb out of their recent struggles.