Plan of this week
The Blackhawks will play the final three of a five-game road trip before returning home Sunday. They play the Nashville Predators on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena (8 p.m. ET, BSSO, NBCSCH+) and on Thursday against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m. ET, NBCSCH, MSG ) on Friday against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center (7 p.m. ET, MSGSN, NBCSCH, SNP, SNW, TVAS) before hosting the Calgary Flames at United Center on Sunday (p.m. 3 p.m. ET, NBCSCH, SN, TVAS).
most interesting matchup
Bedard vs. Hughes, Hischier
That matchup didn’t happen when New Jersey centers Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier suffered injuries when the Devils defeated the Blackhawks 4-2 in Chicago on Nov. 5. So, to see how Bedard fares against Hughes, the Devils’ No. 1 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, and Hischier, the Devils’ No. 1 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, we’ll be looking at a little more. We had to wait. Hughes leads the Devils with 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) in 30 games, while Isier has 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists) in 24 games.
most anticipated games
blackhawks vs rangers
The New York Rangers (25-9-1) entered the new year atop the Metropolitan Division and ended 2023 with a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. They are 6-2-0 in their last eight games, and their top players have performed accordingly. Forward Mika Zibanejad is on a 10-game scoring streak (8 goals, 9 assists). Forward Artemi Panarin, who has 50 points (23 goals and 27 assists) for the Rangers, had a hat trick against the Lightning. This was his second of the season (the first was a 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 3) and the sixth of his career. Bedard will face a tough test against the best players in the league.
What went well in 2023
Well, Bedard’s production is certainly good, both as a goalscorer and as a playmaker who sets up his teammates. He’s still more productive on the road than at his home, but that number is getting closer. Bedard has 19 points (11 goals, 8 assists) in 19 road games and 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) in 17 games at the United Center. He leads the Blackhawks with 115 shots on goal. Nick Foligno was next with 70 points.
things that need work
Bedard was asked this question after the Christmas break, so let him answer it. “I think the beginning of the year was tough with puck management and stuff, but I think it’s gotten better,” he said. “Probably myself and faceoffs (40.3 percent, 320-129) are two things I want to improve on, and I want to make more plays,” he said. “I think I did okay as far as playmaking and creating, but I always want to do more as an offensive player and create more, so I hope I can do that.”
This year’s highlights
Bedard had several goals, but here we’ll highlight his lacrosse goal from a 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues on December 23rd. The goal, Bedard’s version of Wolverines forward Mike Legge, also known as “Michigan,” came at 3:49 of the first period and tied the game at 1-1. The goal caught the attention of the hockey world, including Wayne Gretzky, who was watching the game that night. “…I couldn’t do what he did tonight. It wasn’t in my repertoire,” Gretzky told Bally Sports Midwest. “Harry” [Brett Hull] You can do it.something I could never do [Bedard] I did it tonight. Her daughter Emma is with her and she asks, “Dad, have you ever done that?” I said, ‘No, you can never do that.’