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5 things we learned from the Chicago Blackhawks, including Connor Bedard’s beef and bad luck with overturned goals

phil thompson, chicago tribune
·8 min read

To some, points are pointless if they come in a loss.

A day after Connor Bedard posted at least three points for just the second time in his career, the rookie was in no mood to celebrate.

“It was pretty frustrating,” he said Tuesday. Despite recording a goal and two assists, the Hawks lost to the Carolina Hurricanes, 6-3.

“You’re never happy after a loss, and obviously points are nice, but I think we had lots to improve on, especially in the first two periods. In the third we came out and we weren’t bad. We were holding onto pucks more. Obviously, you’re not happy with that.

“Getting points in the moment is always nice, but you look back and see where you could’ve been better.”

That would apply to a lot of people on the Hawks.

They were bested by the Canes’ withering pressure Monday in Carolina, but it was a glimpse of the future they see for themselves.

Ryan Donato said, “They all bought into the forechecking and getting pucks deep and holding on to pucks.

“We have a lot of fast forwards on our team, so hopefully we can take a little bit of that and know that if we play hard and forecheck hard and be fast and quick everywhere, it kind of strangles the other team a little bit and you create offense off of that.”

Connor Bedard’s rookie season: Tracking the goals of the Chicago Blackhawks’ No. 1 pick

The Hawks gave the Canes a little taste of their own medicine in the third period, which led to two power-play goals.

“Nothing to lose heading into that third period,” Kevin Korchinski said. “Obviously, we were down by a lot of goals so might as well just put it all on the line.”

Korchinski said he would like to see the Hawks bottle some of that — without the four-goal deficit to inspire it.

“You could see that we can play with that team when we’re playing our game,” he said. “We’ve just got to play for the full 60 and start out hard.”

Here are five things we learned.

1. Bedard’s not losing it over lost goals.

For the second game in a row, one of Bedard’s goals didn’t stand up to review.

On Monday his third-period goal was overturned because Louis Crevier couldn’t quite keep the puck in the zone, meaning the Hawks were offside when Bedard scored.

That makes three this season.

“Yeah, it’s nuts, eh? I don’t know, I mean, I guess Toronto doesn’t like me too much,” Bedard joked. “I mean, it’s out of my control and obviously try not to get frustrated by it. It’s nice to kind of get one after, kind of cancel it out. But, yeah, there have been a couple for sure.”

Here’s how the overturned goals break down:

Feb. 19: Third period at Carolina, coach’s challenge (Rod Brind’Amour), ruled offside

Feb. 17: Third period versus Ottawa, coach’s challenge (Jacques Martin), ruled offside

Oct. 24: First period versus Boston, coach’s challenge (Jim Montgomery), ruled offside

Hawks coach Luke Richardson felt for Bedard.

“I was watching the video last night, just the look on his face kind of says it all,” Richardson said. “In the bubble (face mask), his eyes look even more angry.

“He’s probably disappointed, probably a bit of both. But, you know what, it’s good. He had three points last night and he could have easily had four or five if we could have sustained a little more pressure.”

2. No leftover beef with Spencer Martin.

Did anyone have a standoff between 5-foot-10 rookie forward Bedard and 6-3 journeyman goalie Spencer Martin on a 2024 bingo card?

It started in the second period when Dmitry Orlov shoved Bedard into Martin.

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To be completely transparent, it looked like Bedard pulled on Martin’s pad, causing him to fall flat, and stuck his stick in Martin’s way as both players rose to their feet.

At the end of the period, Martin bumped Bedard and Bedard slashed him with his stick and chirped at him.

“He was kind of trying to stay out of there,” Richardson said of Bedard falling into Martin. “I don’t know where the goalie was upset and gave him a shot after the period, but I like Connor’s reaction. He didn’t take it.

“I heard the guys, they loved it. He’s not going to take it. I don’t think he started it, but he’s not going to let it slide by.”

In the third period, after Bedard scored what later would be a disallowed goal, he stared Martin down.

Martin pointed at the scoreboard with his stick. The Canes were still up 5-2 before the Hawks goal was waved off.

Bedard scored 2 1/2 minutes later anyway, but all anyone will remember is their unlikely mini-feud.

Bedard brushed off the confrontation.

“I don’t know, it’s hockey,” he said. “I don’t think it was anything too meaningful or whatever. It was funny.”

3. Hawks are finally moving forward … with forwards.

The Hawks scored three goals for a second consecutive game.

It’s not exactly cause for confetti, but the Hawks had been held to one goal or fewer in 10 of the previous 14 games (only reaching three goals or more twice).

Ryan Donato said, “We’re generating more chances, but we’ve still got to win games, right?”

Still, it’s evidence that reinforcements to the forward lines from injured reserve are having an effect.

The Hawks first got back Nick Foligno (Jan. 22) from IR, then Tyler Johnson (Feb. 7) and Bedard (Feb. 15).

On Monday, the Hawks activated Anthony Beauvillier, who had missed 18 games with a wrist injury.

“I thought he looked good last night,” Richardson said of Beauvillier. “He had some good moments stretching (the defense) and using his speed, and that’s going to help us, for sure. So, his first game back was really encouraging.

“I think (he was) a little bit sore, but that’s the way he’s been after practice every day and it’s getting better. So we’re really happy that he’s back.”

4. Donato keeps digging in despite a lack of results.

Since missing two games in mid-January with an illness, Donato has had just one point (an assist against Vancouver).

It’s not that he hasn’t had chances. He and linemates Colin Blackwell and MacKenzie Entwistle have had their share of missed opportunities and hard-luck moments.

“For me, I just always pray that I get those chances,” Donato said. “I always work hard and get to those (dirty) areas and end up getting chances. Sometimes they go and sometimes they don’t. … I’m bearing down as much as I can.”

“He’s not the swiftest skater; that’s never been his thing,” Richardson acknowledged.

“He’s a shooter and he had a great opportunity in the slot last night on the five-on-three. But unfortunately he was a little close and it didn’t go in.”

Donato keeps faith that his puck luck will turn eventually.

“I’ve had it a lot in my career where you score one and then all of a sudden the floodgates open — you score three or four in a couple games,” he said. “I’ve just got to keep that positive mindset and keep working.”

Richardson just appreciates his stick-to-it attitude and hopes it permeates the team.

“Like, he’s a fiery Boston guy,” he said. “And he gives you his all, all the time, so you’ll never question his work ethic or his character.

“Right now, it’s just like the rest of us, sometimes the goals are hard to come by. But you’re never going to complain about him not taking a shot because he’s taking it if he has a chance.”

5. Bedard doesn’t feel confined in the “bubble.”

Asked if he’s ever aware of the face shield that envelopes his face, Bedard said, “Not really, no.”

“I’ve worn it before briefly. I don’t care too much,” he said.

Bedard wore a full visor while playing for Canada in the 2023 World Juniors. He also has worn it in the three games since returning from a broken jaw on Feb. 15.

He said he got used to it in a day or two, and other than fogging up on occasion, it doesn’t bother him.

“Obviously a visor’s nice but it doesn’t really affect me too much. I don’t mind,” he said.

Of course, someone pointed out the bubble would give him an advantage in a fight.

“Yeah, exactly,” Bedard said. “It would feel a little more comfortable taking a punch to the fish bowl than in the face. But I don’t think I’ll be fighting anytime soon.”