Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) looks at New Jersey Devils goaltender Vitek Vanecek after a save by Vanecek during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard departed after he was leveled in the first period of a 4-2 loss to Simon Nemec and the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.
Bedard was hit by Devils defenseman Brendan Smith after the 18-year-old center carried the puck into Chicago’s offensive zone. Bedard then skated to the bench holding his face as Nick Foligno, Brett Seney and several teammates ignited a skirmish behind the Devils net.
Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson had no update on Bedard after the loss. He said he will be evaluated on Saturday when the team is back in Chicago.
After the All-Star departed, there was a series of skirmishes before New Jersey rallied for its fifth win in six games.
Nemec and Alexander Holtz each had a goal and an assist as the Devils improved to 13-5-1 in their last 19 games. Michael McLeod snapped a tie in the third period, and Tyler Toffoli added an empty-netter for his 16th goal of the season.
Injury-riddled Chicago lost its fifth consecutive game. The last-place Blackhawks also dropped their 14th straight road game.
Jason Dickinson and Boris Katchouk scored for Chicago, and Arvid Soderblom made 28 saves.
HURRICANES 6, CAPITALS 2
WASHINGTON (AP) – Brent Burns scored twice, helping Carolina to its fifth straight win.
Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov had a goal and two assists for his sixth consecutive multipoint game.
Seth Jarvis scored the tying goal early in the third to complete the comeback from down 2-0, and Svechnikov put the Hurricanes ahead on the power play with 7:19 left. Svechnikov also set up Burns for his second of the night less than 90 seconds later.
Sebastian Aho had three assists, and Pyotr Kochetkov made 15 saves for his 11th win of the season for the Hurricanes, who have not lost since the Christmas break.
Dylan Strome and Nic Dowd scored for Washington, which has lost two in a row and six of seven.
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