2023-10-11 01:58:03
Connor Bedard made his NHL debut Tuesday as the Chicago Blackhawks faced the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he earned his first career point in the second period.
Trailing 2-0, Bedard was credited with an assist on the goal from Ryan Donato, who recovered a rebound from Alex Vlasic.
In his first face-to-face meeting in front of his childhood idol, Sidney Crosby, Bedard was welcomed by referee Kelly Sutherland during the initial puck drop.
After this faceoff won by the veteran who is starting his 19th season on the circuit and a semblance of nervousness at his first skates, the first overall pick of the last draft obtained good chances to score in the first period, during which he shot three times at the net. He also threatened twice during the same sequence at the end of the period by using his speed, including once by rushing back into the slot.
While Penguins newcomer Lars Eller was in the penalty box for obstructing the goalie, Bedard was immediately sent into the fray on the first power play unit. He held the puck in offensive territory for almost 1:30 without being able to score, with a one-timer that was pushed away from the pad by Tristan Jarry at the end of the shift.
On his way out, shortly following the Penguins managed to run out the last seconds on a penalty, Bryan Rust scored the first goal of the game by redirecting Kris Letang’s shot into the top of the net.
” It’s a cool moment. When you play you try to stay focused, but during the warm-up, it was crazy, Bedard said during the first intermission. It was a fun first half, I made some good plays, but I have to get used to a new level of play.”
Crosby scored the 551st goal of his career midway through the second period when he threaded the needle from a tight angle through defenseman Alex Vlasic and goalie Petr Mrazek following Marcus Pettersson kept the puck in the zone in extremis .
More details to come
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