Connor Bedard scores 1st overtime goal, powers Blackhawks past Jets 2-1
By Matt Carlson, The Associated Press on December 27, 2023.
CHICAGO (AP) – Connor Bedard scored his second goal of the game at 2:15 of a frantic overtime, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night. Bedard, who leads NHL rookies in scoring, sent a wrist shot under the glove of Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck for the first OT goal of his career and his 15th of the season as Chicago earned just its second win in eight games. Bedard has three goals in his last two games and extended his points streak to five games. The 18-year-old center has three goals and five assists in the span and 14 goals and 32 points in 34 games overall. Morgan Barron scored in regulation for Winnipeg, which lost for the second time in 11 contests (8-1-2). Petr Mrazek made 37 saves for Chicago as Winnipeg built a 38-25 advantage in shots on goal. Hellebuyck finished with 23 shots. The Jets dominated early and took the first eight shots on goal. The sellout crowd of 20,540 groaned a derisive cheer when Chicago’s Anthony Beauvillier finally wristed the Blackhawks’ first shot on Hellebuyck with 5:04 left in the first. Then, the Blackhawks came on with a flurry as Bedard opened the scoring with 4:03 remaining. Connor Murphy held the puck in on the right boards, then fed Bedard in the right circle for a one-timer. Hellebuyck stopped it, but Bedard charged to the net and scored on the rebound. The Jets took over again in the second. Barron tied it at 1 at 3:47, taking a cross-ice pass from Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and scoring between Mrazek’s pads. Mrazek was sharp the rest of the period as Winnipeg outshot Chicago 14-7 in the frame. Among his best stops was a close-in glove save on Nikolaj Ehlers with just over 6 minutes left. Dominic Toninato, playing his first game this season for Winnipeg, hit the post with a shot midway through the scoreless third. The Blackhawks killed a penalty to Jarred Tinordi for tripping Nino Niederreiter with 2:56 left in regulation. Depleted Chicago got boost from the return of rookie defenseman Alex Vlasic, who missed four games with a shoulder injury. Veteran forward Tyler Johnson played after missing one game. Earlier Wednesday, coach Luke Richardson said top defenseman Seth Jones, out since Dec. 10 with a shoulder injury, is expected to resume skating in about a week. Toninato replaced David Gustafsson, a late scratch with a lower-body injury. UP NEXT: Jets: Host Minnesota on Saturday. Blackhawks: At Dallas on Friday to start five-game trip. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl 21-20
