Connor Bedard Is On Fire Even As the Blackhawks Struggle

The fun part of watching Connor Bedard is seeing how differently he sees the game. Denied earlier on a goal waived off due to offside, Bedard instinctively went to the net and lo and behold, the puck squirted through netminder Spencer Martin, into the crease and Bedard was there to bang it home.

So goes the point streak that Bedard has enjoyed since returning, notching six points (2-4) in just three games. He could have eight–had two goals disallowed by an offside call–both counted as well.

Don’t look now, but Bedard is inching closer to a point-per-game pace again. In 42 games, he has 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points. Not bad for a kid who was held off the scoresheet for two-and-half games before his jaw injury.

The #Blackhawks have scored 7 goals since Connor Bedard has returned.

Bedard has earned a point in 6 of them.

— Joe Brand (@Joe_Brand1) February 20, 2024

The Blackhawks were thirsting for goals and points in his absence and now have received the tonic they so desperately needed. Though they’re just 1-2 in those games, the Hawks predictably look like an entirely different team with #98 on the ice.

Connor Bedard Leading Blackhawks Charge

Nick Foligno and Philipp Kurashev both held their own in his absence, but they’ve benefitted handsomely from his return, too. But maybe the little thing noticed in the game was how Bedard snapped back after a couple Hurricane players shoved and chirped him.

Spencer Martin gives Connor Bedard a shove at the end of the second period and Bedard chops back.

Dmitry Orlov pushed Bedard into his goaltender on this play, so I'm not sure what Martin is upset about. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/63ujqejCtp

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 20, 2024

The interesting part here is that Bedard came back in the third by hurting Carolina on the scoreboard, along with drawing a penalty that led to another goal.

This is what Bedard brings and will only get better as the talent level rises within the organization. There are a handful of players who will be on this roster as the Blackhawks rise back to prominence but seeing how Bedard chirped and then chipped in three points is what should be really heartening to Hawks fans.

He plays even better when he’s mad.

Oh sure, the Blackhawks are going to pushed around all year but they’ll push back. They did tonight even though they could have mailed it in early in the third.

The message is resonating and their best player won’t put up with it either. Imagine what it’ll look like when there are others who will be able to light it up, too.

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