Tonight, Connor Bedard is set to return to the lineup as the Blackhawks take on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. This will be the 21-year-olds first game as captain of the Blackhawks.
Getting Bedard back is a boost that the 1-5-0 Blackhawks really need. According to head coach Jeff Blashill, Bedard is in the lineup for tonight, awaiting final word from the doctors prior to the game.
When Bedard sustained his first shoulder injury last December, he was third in the league in scoring with 44 points in 31 games (116 point pace over 82 games).
When Bedard returned in January, he wasn’t the same player. He clearly wasn’t 100%, and he wasn’t even cleared to take faceoffs.
This time, however, Bedard opted for surgery and is cleared to take faceoffs immediately. The Blackhawks are hoping Bedard can replicate his play at the start of last season.
Of course, it may take Bedard some time to get going. “He’s missed training camp, missed the beginning of the season. We can’t expect him to come just carry us to victory” Jeff Blashill (via Mark Lazerus on X)
Blackhawks projected lines:
Kantserov – Bedard – Kane
Bertuzzi – Frondell – Teravainen
Smith – Greene – Greenway
Moore – Toninato – Donato
Byram – Levshunov
Vlasic – Cole
Kaiser – Rinzel
Knight
Bedard with Kane and Kantserov
Bedard will center Kane and Kantserov. By far the two best linemates Bedard has had in his young career. Kane is an elite playmaker and Kantserov is a speedy goal scorer who is hard on pucks and can win battles. Kantserov is also a skilled two-way forward.
Nick Lardis probably out
It seems that Nick Lardis will be the odd man out tonight as he was the extra forward in line rushes yesterday. Lardis has struggled to get anything going in the first six games. Blashill anticipates Andrew Mangiapane to return at the end of the week. When that happens, I think Lardis should go back to Rockford and play top line minutes to get his confidence back.
What I’ll be watching for:
- The powerplay: adding Bedard to the powerplay not only is a boost in itself, but it allows Patrick Kane to move back to the right wall. For the first time, the powerplay will have Bedard, Kane, and Bowen Byram. Three pieces that when together, should make the powerplay a lot better.
- Don’t get outshot 2:1: The Blackhawks consistently get outshot by their opponent every night. two reasons come to mind, lack of puck possession, and too many pass-first forwards. Bedard helps with both those things. Bedard averages just under three SOG per game throughout his career so far.
Penguins projected lines:
Rakell – Crosby – Rust
Chinakhov – Novak – Malkin
Kuzmenko – Kindel – Koivunen
Dewar – Lizotte – Robertson
Carlile – Karlsson
Girard – Korczak
Stastney – Letang
Silovs/Murashov