Instant Analysis: Blackhawks Can’t Stop Red Hot Oilers

The late, national game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers got a highlight reel Connor Bedard goal to start things out.

It sure seemed like Bedard and the Blackhawks were going to make things very uncomfortable for McDavid and his Oilers.

Ridiculous shot by Connor Bedard. Wow. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/S1CcYVk9NX

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 13, 2023

But the streaking Oilers found their way and even got a little bit of luck to help them en route to their eighth straight with a 4-1 win over the Blackhawks.

Chicago falls to 9-18-1.

Things started the right way with Bedard taking a perfect outlet pass from Alex Vlasic and firing it above Stuart Skinner far side to give the Blackhawks the early lead. But Edmonton would get goals from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Sam Gagner, and an own goal from Nikita Zaitsev, which turned the lead into their favor at 3-1. Zach Hyman notched the fourth goal for Edmonton and from there, it was clear they were in control.

Bedard’s Billing Against McDavid Impresses Early

Of course, most of the attention was placed on the Bedard-McDavid tilt which got off to a great start with Bedard’s goal. But the rest of the game started to trend how many expected. But it should give hope to Blackhawks fans staying up to the late hours that require two coffees and likely an espresso shot in after the alarm clock goes off.

McDavid has strapped the team onto his back after a brutal start for the Oilers and Bedard has been the main driver of offense for Chicago all season long. That’s without the comfort of the roster that McDavid enjoys.

So while it’s the first of many contests against the “Connors,” it could very well turn into another Oilers-Blackhawks rivalry that populated the hockey scene when another generational guy by the name of Wayne Gretzky was tearing up the league.

Make sure to rest up tomorrow–it’s another late one Thursday.