The Chicago Blackhawks' rookie sensation Connor Bedard continues to make headlines, this time with a stirring performance against the Anaheim Ducks. Bedard notched his landmark 20th goal and tallied four assists, leading his team to a commanding 7-2 victory on Tuesday night, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.
Hitting the ice with a vengeance, Bedard seems to effortlessly shatter expectations, breaking an eight-game goal drought to emphatically put up eight points in just two appearances. The rookie phenom now leads his draft class with 51 points in 52 games. "I always try to go in with the same mindset and try to play the same," Bedard told The Hockey News. His dynamic presence on the ice echoes a Blackhawks high water mark for a rookie, matching Ken Wharram's five-point game from the history books in 1954.
Beyond Bedard's achievements, his team is starting to find their groove with a power play that's suddenly clicking, rattling off four goals with a man advantage. His standout performance is part of a broader resurgence for the Blackhawks, who have now strung together consecutive seven-goal outings for the first time in over three decades. Teammate Philipp Kurashev also shined, accumulating two goals and two assists, highlighted in the Tribune coverage of the game.
Emulating a veteran despite his youth, Bedard joins the exclusive company with Eddie Olczyk as the only two 18-year-old Blackhawks to score 20 goals. "Scoring goals is nice and those round numbers, but it's not really something I thought about," Bedard nonchalantly said in a statement acquired by The Hockey News. As he continues to weave his magic on the ice, teammates and fans alike can only anticipate what records might next fall to this rising star.
The wide-victorious margin was further cemented by goals from teammates Ryan Donato, Seth Jones, MacKenzie Entwistle, and Tyler Johnson. Anaheim, on the other side, saw their hopes for a comeback dim with Brett Leason scoring both goals for the team. Blackhawks' coach Luke Richardson maintains perspective despite the wins, suggesting a need to "push it even more," as chronicled by the Tribune. With the bar set high, the Blackhawks and Bedard ride their momentum into the remainder of the season, leaving fans to eagerly await the next feat from the prodigious talent.
