Hours before Saturday’s matinee against the Ottawa Senators at the United Center, coach Luke Richardson ruminated on the intangible juju that Connor Bedard seems to sprinkle on the Chicago Blackhawks by his mere presence.
Richardson compared it to the influence Sidney Crosby has on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Connor McDavid on the Edmonton Oilers.
“Connor’s got that effect, not just with the fans but obviously in the game itself,” Richardson said. “We know what he can do and just one game back (from a jaw injury Thursday). He (got the) dust off in the first period and in the second period he was pretty explosive.
”A few other bounces could’ve gone his way, he could’ve had a bigger night.”
The “Connor Effect” didn’t need every bounce to go its way, but he made enough of the ones he got to reverse the fortunes of a Hawks team that has been scuffling badly lately.
Bedard’s second-period goal sparked the Hawks’ 3-2 comeback victory against the Senators and snapped a season-high eight-game winless streak.
“Yeah, that was a pretty bad shot,” Bedard said. “But it counts.”
“Yeah, that was a pretty bad shot.”
—Connor Bedard on his goal pic.twitter.com/bVOASfcB00
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 17, 2024
Said Richardson after the game: “He’s just driven. Loves to play, loves to score and help the team in that way.”
Returning after a 14-game absence from jaw surgery, Bedard hasn’t missed a beat. He had an assist Thursday against the Penguins and a goal and an assist Saturday.
“It’s great,” Bedard said. “Especially getting back and being at home for a couple games and getting to feel that energy and stuff, it’s awesome. To get a win, it’s been a long time for myself.
Bedard last tasted victory Dec. 27 against the Winnipeg Jets.
“We were on a (six)-game losing streak when I was playing … and it’s hard watching when we’re losing,” he said. “So it feels good for all of us to get that.”
Saturday’s victory also extended the Hawks’ winning streak against the Senators to 11 games.
The Hawks got the early jump, with Bedard and Kurashev setting up Nick Foligno for the opening goal with 6 minutes, 31 seconds left in the first period.—
Blackhawks left wing Nick Foligno celebrates with teammates Connor Bedard (98) and Jaycob Megna (24) after scoring in the first period against the Senators on Feb. 17, 2024, at the United Center.
But at 15:57, that line got greedy in the offensive zone, and the Senators made them pay on the other end, catching Kevin Korchinski in a two-on-one rush. Tim Stützle finished Claude Giroux’s backdoor pass to tie it 1-1.
The Hawks penalty kill had shut out opponents’ power plays in four straight games but gave up one to Jakob Chychrun in the second period. But the Hawks answered with Bedard’s goal off a counterattack.
In the third period, Bedard nearly put up the go-ahead goal with some forehand-backhand trickery, but the Senators bench challenged and the Hawks were ruled offside.
Jason Dickinson did the honors instead.
The Hawks forward somehow got a sturdy stick on the puck out of a mad scramble in the crease, falling to the ice as he punched in the winner with 1:52 left in the game.
“It’s definitely big. Helps morale,” Dickinson said. “The past couple games we weren’t satisfied with our 60-minute effort and tonight we scored with under two to go.
“Kind of touch-and-go at times, but we stuck with it for the whole 60.”
Added Bedard: “We felt pretty good going (into the third) and with the tie game and Mráz (goalie Petr Mrázek) playing well. We just needed the one and we got it, so it was a good feeling.”
Mrázek faced 42 shots and made 40 saves.
“A lot of shots were coming from the blue line and a lot of pucks I could see,” he said. “So it’s always nice when you get some action.”
Here are eight takeaways from the win.
1. Kurashev has become Phil the Facilitator.
Kurashev recorded his fifth straight game with a point and has a goal and six assists in that span.
In the first period Saturday, he back-passed to Bedard by the blue line and got it back down low — just before Kurashev connected with Foligno at the doorstep.
In the second, Kurashev collected a loose puck by the wall and dished it to Bedard, who wristed it past Korpisalo.
The play started in the Hawks defensive zone with Kurashev batting it to Bedard, who took a crack at the net seven seconds before he scored on his second chance.
Kurashev was in prime position with 2 1/2 minutes left in the third to one-time a pass from Bedard.
“He’s fun to play with,” Bedard said. “He’s super smart, fast, skilled. I think as you play with a guy more you’re kind of able to read off him and same with Fligs (Foligno).
“But yeah, Kurshy is a stud. I’ve had a lot of fun growing that chemistry and getting to play with him.”
Dickinson discussed how Kurashev and Bedard have meshed.
“Kurshy sees the game at a high level,” Dickinson said. “He’s able to match Bedsy’s hockey IQ at times. … Getting to play with a player like that will benefit Kurshy because he gets guys that see offensive ice the way he does and is able to put pucks where some other guys might not be able to put pucks, so he can make something happen out of seemingly what might be nothing.”
Richardson saw flashes of Kurashev’s offensive potential last season.
“Before I got here, they said Kurshy has some problems with confidence, sometimes it goes up and down, and that usually affects the offensive side of the game,” RIchardson said. “There was a bit of a goal drought for a while (this season) but he’s been pretty consistent making plays and getting some nice assists out there.
“And he’s a very conscientious player, a 200-foot player, so he’s perfect to play with Connor right now.”
2. Perhaps Bedard’s most dazzling play was … the one that didn’t count.
Bedard stickhandled beautifully and stuck the puck past Korpisalo on a daring drive to the crease.
“Everybody knows he’s a dynamic player,” Dickinson said. “He’s electric with the puck.”
But there was a hitch: After a video review, the Hawks were determined to be offside.
“I kind of thought it might be, but you never know, it’s so fast,” Bedard said. “But yeah, I wasn’t too excited when it went in. I was waiting for the review.”
But Bedard’s maneuvers were impressive, nonetheless.
“The goalie bit,” Richardson said. “He was probably thinking backhand-shelf because he really deked out to his Connor’s left, and had the whole open net (to Bedard’s right).
“He’s probably disappointed and he’ll go to the shooting room tonight and shoot some pucks.”
3. Dickinson took his lumps down low for the cause.
Blackhawks center Jason Dickinson (16) celebrates with teammates after scoring the go-ahead goal in the third period against the Senators on Feb. 17, 2024, at the United Center.
The Hawks always talk about bearing down in key moments being the difference between winning and losing.
Guess this is what it looks like.
Dickinson shoveled in the puck with less than two minutes left to secure the 3-2 edge the Hawks would need, his 17th goal this season.
https://twitter.com/nhl_goal_bot/status/1758984339503681976/video/1
“I’m honestly not thinking about the net, really, much at that point,” Dickinson said. “I’m just thinking how can I contort my stick to get it at a good angle to get it anywhere on the net.”
More than just being a game-winner, it was the kind of dirty goal that has come too sparingly for the Hawks.
“Just stayed with it right until he faceplanted on the ice after he scored,” Richardson said. “He stayed right in there until he got a shot, the second shot. He’s a strong guy and he’s a good skater and sturdy on his feet.
“So we need guys to emulate him and play more like him and … (he’s) leading by example in that area.”
4. Anthony Beauvillier is closer to returning.
Beauvillier (left wrist fracture) practiced Friday but he missed his 18th straight game.
“Hoping (for) Carolina (Monday) or the game after,” he said. “It feels like I haven’t played in forever.
“It’s just nice to be back with the group and do everything with them, meetings, workouts and stuff, so it’s good to be with the group and not on my own anymore.”
Beauvillier suffered the injury during the Hawks’ game Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tenn., and could tell he wouldn’t bounce back.
“I knew it didn’t feel nice, so I knew it was going to take a little bit,” he said.
5. Richardson resisted bragging rights (well, almost).
The Ottawa, Ontario, native played the last two seasons of his career there (2007-09) and kicked off his coaching career as a Senators assistant (2009-12).
As a Hawks coach, he has won his only three meetings with his old team
(along with Saturday’s 3-2 win, the Hawks won 5-0 on March 6, 2023, and 4-3 in overtime in Ottawa on Feb. 17, 2023).
So you’d think Richardson would savor every chance to beat the Senators.
“No, I only played a year and a half there, almost, so for me it was more (that) I was in the organization for a long time on the coaching side than I was playing side,” he said before Saturday’s game. “It’s always a little different than when you’re a player and you play for a place for a long time.
“So for me, I have a lot of friends at home bragging if they win.”
Now, family is another matter.
Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun is Richardson’s nephew.
“Yeah, I winked at Chychrun on the ice there,” Richardson said, smiling. “I think we were tied at the time, so he might not wink back now.
“He’s pretty competitive. I didn’t see him, but I’ll text him later just to throw a jab in. But I don’t want bad karma on us either. I’ll just say, ‘Good game. I’m happy you scored, but I’m happy we won.’ ”
6. Lukas Reichel is a healthy scratch again.
Reichel spent a second straight game watching from the press box.
He had an assist Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks, but it didn’t make up for a practically invisible performance the rest of the game.
“He didn’t get much going offensively until the end,” Richardson said. “He made a nice play (in) the red zone (on his assist), but just like everybody, we need more from him offensively without giving it up defensively.”
If it wasn’t for injuries, the Hawks might have sent Reichel to Rockford for a reset.
“We realize when players are down on themselves and we don’t want to pile on but it’s the NHL,” Richardson said “We have to somehow push them to get over that, and a lot of that’s internally with the player.
“We can only do so much and show them so much from video … and get them feeling good about their game, but he’s young. And there’s always growing pains with young guys.”
The Hawks have sometimes struggled with whether to cast Reichel (6-foot-0, 170 pounds) as a center or wing.
“He’s not the biggest guy in the world so it’s hard for him to figure out how he’s fitting in and where he’s going to fit in and how he’s going to use his tools out there,” Richardson said. “So it’s not very many players (who) come in as young guys and they’re the top of their game right off the hop.
“He’s still finding it.”
7. While sitting out, Arvid Söderblom worked on his stance.
Söderblom had waited three weeks since his last start, and 15 seconds into the Pittsburgh Penguins game, he already was in the hole.
Crosby won the opening puck drop and snuck behind the Hawks defense on his opening goal.
“Tough start there, obviously, with a great tip by Sid,” Söderblom told the Tribune on Friday. “I hadn’t played in a while, so it was a little (bit of a) tough start. As the game went on, I felt better and better. And the second period was really good, couple of great saves there.”
Söderblom made 23 saves on 26 shots.
He has gone five games between his last two starts.
“It’s always a little bit easier to get into games right away when you’ve been playing a lot, continuously and not sitting out,” he said. “At the same time, I’ve been working out and practicing really well.”
Söderblom has spent the time refining techniques and body position with goalie coach Jimmy Waite.
“We’ve been working on being a little bit more upright, not shrinking down too much,” Söderblom said. “And having my gloves a little higher makes it easier for me to move, and I can move better and be square all the time.
“That makes me bigger and I can let the puck come to me instead of being too low, having to chase the puck and opening up too much. I use my size and my good footwork and be square and let the puck come to me.”
8. The last laugh: Beds-time for the kids.
Ever since Foligno became a Hawk, his kids made it clear he played second fiddle to Bedard.
So the boys, Landon and Hudson, got a treat Friday: Sharing some ice time at Fifth Third Arena after practice.
“They were very excited,” Foligno said Friday. “All they wanted to see was Bedsy today. I’m an Uber driver now.
“But it’s fun to have them come to the rink and it breaks up a tough stretch for us, so hopefully it brings some joy. Their jaws are going to be sore from how much bubble gum they’ve been eating today.”
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