Blackhawks rookie Artyom Levshunov sidelined with hand fracture

NEWARK, N.J. — Blackhawks rookie defenseman Artyom Levshunov’s struggles in the last two games make more sense now.

The Hawks discovered Levshunov had been playing through a “small fracture” in his left hand that he suffered Tuesday against the Islanders, coach Jeff Blashill said Sunday morning.

“He’s a tough kid,” Blashill added.

Levshunov is now sidelined with an indefinite timetable pending further imaging, which should be done Monday when the Hawks return to Chicago.

It’s very possible, if not likely, his season is now over, considering the Hawks have just nine games left (including Sunday against the Devils).

The Hawks are coming off back-to-back hideous losses against the Flyers and Rangers. During Levshunov’s ice time in those two games, those opponents collectively outscored the Hawks 6-1 and outshot them 26-14.

It has been an up-and-down first full NHL season for the 20-year-old Belarusian, who peaked around New Year’s, bottomed out before the Olympic break and had been relatively solid since the break until this setback.

He has two goals and 22 assists (second among rookie defensemen) in 68 games, but he also has a minus-41 rating. That’s heavily influenced by the fact he’s played sizable minutes (19:35 per game) against opponents’ top lines on one of the league’s worst teams, but it’s ugly nonetheless.

“I’m really excited about the way Arty has trended,” general manager Kyle Davidson said earlier this month. “Certainly when you look at where he was a couple years ago to where he was a year [ago to now], I think it’s constant improvement. Maybe not constant upward trajectory, but in general, the arrow is definitely pointed up. We’re really excited about that. We think the sky is the limit for this kid.”

Kevin Korchinski was called up to take Levshunov’s spot, and he will make his fifth NHL appearance of the season on the third pair alongside Ethan Del Mastro against the Devils.