Draft him the club did, and his professional career has gotten off to a fast start, with his first goal in Game 2, and assists in the other two contests.
Follow along here for the key moments in the phenom’s rookie campaign, along with upcoming games on the Blackhawks schedule, a vast majority of which are available to ESPN+ subscribers at no additional cost via NHL PowerPlay.
Although the Lightning scored first, Bedard led a furious scoring onslaught for the Blackhawks during the first period, with two goals and an assist, en route to a Chicago win.
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Connor Bedard puts together 3-point period for Blackhawks
Connor Bedard dazzles with a 3-point first period for the Blackhawks vs. the Lightning.
On a visit to Mullett Arena, it was Bedard striking first with a goal 28 seconds into the proceedings. But then the Yotes took over, scoring eight straight.
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Connor Bedard scores 28 seconds into game for Chicago
Connor Bedard wastes no time scoring as he finds the back of the net just 28 seconds into the game.
Bedard and the rest of the Blackhawks were held off the scoreboard in this one, but it wasn’t for lack of trying, as an apparent goal was called off due to a coach’s challenge:
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Buccigross bummed after Connor Bedard’s goal is chalked off
John Buccigross isn’t happy after Connor Bedard’s opening goal for the Blackhawks is chalked off after a challenge by the Bruins.
Ticket prices for Bedard’s home debut were through the roof, and the rookie didn’t wait long to give the fans what they wanted. He scored his first home goal on the power play 1:30 into the first period. But, Chicago didn’t have nearly enough offense to match up with the defending Cup champs this night.
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Connor Bedard scores his first home goal for the Blackhawks
Connor Bedard slaps the puck past the goalie to notch his first home goal for the Blackhawks.
As we prognosticated upon Bedard’s rookie season, we had a feeling that the Blackhawks would not be among the top Stanley Cup favorites. They faced one a team like that in this game, and the Avs showed Bedard & Co. a glimpse of what that looks like up close. No points (or highlight-reel clips), but a decent 7-for-15 from the faceoff dot for our guy Bedard.
In Bedard’s final season of junior hockey, he had more games with five points than games with zero points. Chicago’s win over Toronto in his fourth game was one of the second type, as he failed to register a point despite a lopsided win for his club:
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Chicago Blackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: Full Highlights
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: Full Highlights
The Canadiens edged the Blackhawks in a game of two teams we expect will be in the draft lottery again in 2024. Bedard picked up an assist on Tyler Johnson‘s second goal of the game:
The stories leading into Bedard’s first game focused on the matchup with his childhood idol (and fellow No. 1 draft pick) Sidney Crosby. Bedard’s night included taking the game’s first faceoff against Crosby, and he also had an assist on Ryan Donato‘s goal:
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Connor Bedard records first NHL assist
Connor Bedard finds Ryan Donato, who smashes home the rebound to pull the Blackhawks within one goal of the Penguins.
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Note: All games not broadcast by NHL Network, TNT or TBS are available on ESPN+.
MILWAUKEE — The Brewers have become the first major league team to clinch a playoff spot this season.
According to MLB, the New York Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers on Saturday sealed at least a National League wild card for the Brewers as they got ready to play Saturday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The NL Central-leading Brewers own the best record in the majors.
This marks the seventh time in the last eight seasons that the Brewers have qualified for the playoffs, though they haven’t won a postseason series since reaching Game 7 of the National League Championship Series in 2018.
They had made a total of two postseason appearances from 1983-2017.
With no timeouts left and the clock running with under 20 seconds to play, the Georgia Tech special teams squad sprinted onto the field and lined up.
And on fourth-and-3, Birr connected and the home crowd rushed the field.
Quarterback Haynes King returned from a lower-body injury that kept him out of Georgia Tech’s Sept. 6 win over Gardener-Webb.
King was 19-for-27 for 216 yards and added 25 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter for the Yellow Jackets (3-0, 1-0 ACC).
King’s score and the 2-point conversion gave the Yellow Jackets a 21-14 lead.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik had an uneven performance in which he turned the ball over twice — one fumble and one interception.
Klubnik was 15-for-26 for 207 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown pass to Bryant Wesco early in the second half to give the Tigers a 14-13 lead. Klubnik added 62 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
For the second straight week, Clemson (1-2, 0-1) had to overcome a slow start and halftime deficit.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Ty Simpson threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns, including two to returning star Ryan Williams, and No. 19 Alabama overpowered Wisconsin for the second consecutive year, winning 38-14 on Saturday.
Simpson completed 24 of 29 passes, with two of his misses being drops by Williams and freshman Lotzier Brooks. Williams finished with five receptions for 165 yards after missing last week’s game because of a concussion.
Simpson, who was equally solid last week against Louisiana-Monroe, joined Mac Jones (2020) as the only quarterbacks in school history to complete at least 80% of their passes and throw three TDs in consecutive games.
The Byrant-Denny Stadium crowd erupted as Williams took a screen pass and went 75 yards on the first play of the second half. It gave Williams his first 100-yard game since facing Georgia last September.
Bray Hubbard‘s two interceptions led an Alabama (2-1) defense that held Wisconsin to 209 yards. The Crimson Tide notched four sacks.
Danny O’Neil, subbing for injured Wisconsin starter Billy Edwards Jr., completed 11 of 17 passes for 117 yards. His 41-yard TD pass to Jayden Ballard was one of the few highlights for the Badgers (2-1). Vinny Anthony II also returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score.
The injury-riddled Badgers couldn’t find a rhythm on either side of the ball and have dropped consecutive games to Alabama by a combined score of 80-24, while the Tide have outscored their last two opponents by a combined score of 111-14 following their season-opening loss to Florida State.
Alabama defensive end LT Overton left the game in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury and did not return. He walked to the locker room without assistance.
Wisconsin returns home to face Maryland next Saturday in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
Alabama gets the week off before opening conference play against No. 6 Georgia.