Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Bedard Ties Jonathan Toews’ Rookie Mark Despite 6-2 Loss
It’s a tough stat line to read and even worse knowing that in two contests against the Los Angeles Kings the Blackhawks were drubbed 11-2. But the late showing Tuesday night was better than Friday’s offering, with the Blackhawks deadlocked at one before surrendering three goals in the second period. It also saw Connor Bedard notch another impressive footnote in a season filled with losses.
Here are a pair of thoughts after a pair of games with the Kings in five days.
Blackhawks Fall Into a Hole Again–Just Later This Time
Anze Kopitar was a big reason for this, but the Hawks just couldn’t keep the puck out of their net during the second period. It was a 4-0 hole on Friday night, but this game teased a 1-1 tie until the Kings broke through with a trifecta of goals, two of which came from Hawk-killer Kopitar. He also assisted on the goal that made it 2-1.
Until that point, Chicago had played LA far closer than Friday’s contest. But the result ended in a similar fashion–even thought the start was stronger than before.
Connor Bedard Keeps Moving Up The Rookie Ladder
With an assist on Kevin Korchinski’s goal, Connor Bedard has tied Jonathan Toews in rookie points with 54 (21-33). Toews ended his rookie season playing 64 games with those 54 points–now Bedard can burst beyond that and move into eighth all-time in rookie points with one more which would tie Bill Hay who had 55 points in 70 games back in 1969-70.
Bedard continues to rack up points and could certainly push into the top five if he keeps with this pace. He’s on par to finish the season with 68 games played, which would place him at 67 points. That would be a point better than Jeremy Roenick’s rookie campaign, and just five points short of Patrick Kane.
But Bedard seems due for a few more multi-point games, and catching other Blackhawks legends doesn’t seem too far far fetched.