Tyler Bertuzzi, Andre Burakovsky, Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Bedard delivered a sensational performance on Friday, recording four points to guide the Chicago Blackhawks past the Calgary Flames 4-0. The young star tallied a goal and three primary assists, moving just one point shy of the NHL scoring lead.
Bertuzzi Shines Alongside Bedard
Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice, while Andre Burakovsky added another goal for the Blackhawks, improving Chicago’s record to 7-5-3. Bertuzzi came off a hat-trick in Wednesday’s game against Vancouver, and his early goal Friday marked four goals over two periods. Bedard’s precise playmaking helped set up Bertuzzi for his second goal, continuing their potent on-ice chemistry.
Flames Struggle to Find the Net
For Calgary, the winless skid continued. After a five-goal outing against Columbus midweek, the Flames fell back into their scoring slump. They were limited to one or fewer goals for the sixth time this season and remain the NHL’s lowest-scoring team at 2.19 goals per game. Calgary now sits at the bottom of the league standings, struggling to find offensive rhythm.
Goaltenders Face Off
In a duel between former U.S. World Junior teammates, Chicago’s Spencer Knight earned his first shutout as a Blackhawk with 33 saves. Calgary’s Dustin Wolf stopped 23 shots but took the loss. Knight now improves to 6-3-2 on the season, marking his sixth career shutout, while Wolf falls to 4-9-1.
Key Plays in the Third Period
The Blackhawks broke the 1-0 game open in the third period with three unanswered goals. The Bedard-to-Bertuzzi connection struck again at 1:11 of the final frame. On a 2-on-1 rush, Bedard delivered a perfect pass, and Bertuzzi one-timed it into the top corner for a 2-0 lead. Burakovsky and Bedard also contributed to the late surge, securing the decisive victory.
Chicago Notes
The game had some tense moments. Frank Nazar left the ice late in the first period after a cross-check from Joel Farabee. The 21-year-old centre had been off to a strong sophomore season, recording 11 points (five goals, six assists). Following the hit, Colton Dach fought Farabee, reducing Chicago to 10 forwards. Coach Jeff Blashill has been rotating 11 forwards and seven defensemen this season.
Calgary’s Challenges
Calgary faced roster difficulties on defense. Kevin Bahl was sidelined with an undisclosed injury, forcing rookies Zayne Parekh and Yan Kuznetsov into the top-four lineup alongside Rasmus Andersson. The Flames were involved in three on-ice fights, including blueliners MacKenzie Weegar and Joel Hanley. Parekh left the game after taking a hit from Nick Foligno, adding to Calgary’s struggles.
Bedard’s Hot Streak Continues
Connor Bedard extended his scoring streak to seven games, accumulating 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) through 15 matches. The 2023 first-overall pick is on pace to surpass his career-high 67 points from last season, confirming his emergence as one of the league’s top young talents.
With another standout performance, Bedard continues to cement his status as the heartbeat of the Blackhawks. If he maintains this pace, Chicago could rely heavily on him to climb the standings in the coming weeks.
