Connor Bedard’s game was back and so was the swagger.
Bedard assisted on Wyatt Kaiser’s goal to end a seven-game point drought, then capped off the night with his own dramatic game-winner.
The Utah Hockey Club forced overtime with a third-period rally, but Bedard whipped a shot by Karel Vejmelka to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-3 victory at the United Center on Friday.
Bedard “holstered” his stick and raised his arms, reminiscent of his rookie-season “Are you not entertained?” pose.
“I wanted to dish it” on a two-on-one with Ethan Del Mastro, Bedard said, but Utah backchecked. Bedard said he had to maintain his poise as he circled the back of the net and tried to reload the offense.
“I wanted to dish it again with Turbo (Teuvo Teräväinen),” he said. “So last resort, just chuck one on net. Fortunately, it went in.”
It was Bedard’s second career overtime game-winner – he scored the other against the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 27, 2023 – making him the first teenager in franchise history with multiple overtime goals.
That wasn’t the only Hawks history made that night.
Frank Nazar became the first Hawks rookie to score on the penalty shot, according to NHL Stats and Information.
Late in the third, Mikhail Sergachev held Nazar on a breakaway. Nazar faked inside on Vejmelka and shoveled a backhand shot behind him. Asked if he was aware he had made history, Nazar looked surprised.
“No, really? That’s cool.”
The theatrics aside, the Hawks were happy to finish the homestand with a win – and damage the playoff chase for a Central Division nemesis.
Bedard said, “After last week, obviously it was only a 2-1 (loss) but they absolutely dominated us.
“It’s fun when they need the wins and obviously we’re not pushing for the playoffs, but you can kind of make it a little tougher for them to get in. … So, that’s always good.”