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To some, points mean nothing when they lose.
a day later Connor Bedard scores at least three points For only the second time in his rookie career, he wasn’t in the mood to celebrate.
“It was pretty frustrating,” he said Tuesday. Despite recording a goal and two assists, the Hawks lost 6-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes.
“You are never happy after a defeat and of course the points are nice, but I think we have a lot to improve, especially in the first two periods. We came out in the third and were not bad. We were holding on to the pucks more. Obviously you are not happy about that.
“It’s always nice to get points immediately, but when you look back you see where you could have been better.”
This will be true for many people at the Hawks.
They fell to devastating pressure from the Canes on Monday in Carolina, but that was a glimpse of the future they see for themselves.
“They all believed in forechecking, getting pucks deep and hanging on to pucks,” Ryan Donato said.
“We have some very fast forward players in our team, so hopefully we can get some of that and we know that if we play hard, check in advance and be fast and fast everywhere, it stifles the other team a little bit and you create resentment from that.
Connor Bedard’s rookie season: Tracking the goals of the Chicago Blackhawks’ No. 1 pick
The Hawks gave the Canes a little taste of their own medicine in the third period, which led to two power play goals.
“There’s nothing to lose going into the third period,” Kevin Korchinski said. “Obviously we were a lot of goals behind, so we might as well risk it all.”
Korchinski said he’d like to see the Hawks bottle some of that without falling into a four-goal deficit.
“When we were playing our game, you could see that we could play with that team,” he said. “We have to play the full 60 minutes and start hard.”
Here are five things we learned.
1. Bedard does not give up because of lost goals.
For the second game in a row, one of Bedard’s goals did not stand up to scrutiny.
On Monday, Louis Crevier’s third-period goal was overturned due to his inability to keep the puck in the zone, meaning the Hawks were offside when Bedard scored.
There are three this season.
“Yeah, it’s crazy, right? I don’t know, so I guess Toronto doesn’t like me very much,” Bedard joked. “I mean, it’s out of my control and of course I’m trying not to get frustrated by it. It’s nice to get one after another, kind of cancel it out. But yeah, definitely one There was a couple.
What’s up with these disallowed goals?
Connor Bedard: “This is crazy, right? I guess Toronto doesn’t like me very much.” pic.twitter.com/rf6kHCV95u
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 20, 2024
The breakdown of goals conceded is as follows:
February 19: Coach’s challenge (Rod Brind’Amour) in the third period in Carolina, offside decision was made
17 February: Coach’s tackle (Jacques Martin) in the third period against Ottawa, ruled offside
24 October: Coach’s tackle (Jim Montgomery) in the first period against Boston, ruled offside
Hawks coach Luke Richardson felt for Bedard.
“I was watching the video last night and the look on his face says it all,” Richardson said. “In the bubble (face mask) his eyes look even angrier.
“He’s probably disappointed, probably a little of both. But you know what, it’s good. “He had three points last night and could easily have had four or five if we could have withstood a little more pressure.”
“I was watching the video last night and the look on his face says it all. His eyes look even angrier in the bubble.”
—Luke Richardson on another disallowed goal by Connor Bedard, who wore a face mask to protect his chin pic.twitter.com/LR8D8PsrPG
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 20, 2024
2. Spencer Martin runs out of beef.
Anyone have a falling out between 6-foot-9 rookie forward Bedard and 6-3 journeyman goaltender Spencer Martin on the 2024 bingo card?
It all started in the second period when Dmitry Orlov pushed Bedard into Martin.
To be completely transparent, Bedard appeared to have pulled Martin’s pad, causing him to fall flat, and then stuck his stick into Martin’s path as both players stood up.
He hit Martin Bedard and Bedard at the end of the period. He cut it with his stick and chirped.
“She was kind of trying to stay out of there,” Richardson said of Bedard’s crush on Martin. “I don’t know where the goalkeeper got upset after the period and shot at him, but I liked Connor’s reaction. He didn’t take it.
“I hear the guys love it. He won’t take it. “I don’t think he started it, but he’s not going to let it pass.”
In the third period, after Bedard scored what was later disallowed. He looked at Martin.
Martin pointed at the scoreboard with his stick. The Canes were still up 5-2 before the Hawks’ goal was disallowed.
Bedard still scored 2 1/2 minutes later, but all anyone will remember is their improbable mini-tiff.
Bedard ignored this confrontation.
“I don’t know, it’s hockey,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a very meaningful thing. It was funny.”
3. The Hawks are finally moving forward.
The Hawks scored three goals for the second straight game.
That’s not exactly cause for confetti, but the Hawks had scored one goal or less in 10 of their previous 14 games (only reaching three or more goals twice).
Ryan Donato: “We’re creating more chances but we still need to win games, right?” said.
Still, this is proof that reinforcements to the forward line from injured reserve are effective.
The Hawks first got Nick Foligno back from IR (Jan. 22), then Tyler Johnson (Feb. 7) and Bedard (Feb. 15).
On Monday, the Hawks activated forward Anthony Beauvillier, who missed 18 games with an ankle injury.
“I thought he looked good last night,” Richardson said of Beauvillier. “He’s had some good moments stretching defensively and using his speed and that will definitely help us. So the first game he came back was really encouraging.
“I think he was a little bit sore, but he was like this every day after training and he’s getting better and better, so we’re really happy he’s back.”
4. Donato continues to investigate despite the lack of results.
![Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato (8) competes for the puck during the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the United Center in Chicago on Thursday, February 15, 2024. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)](https://bestamericancomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1708506719_708_Connor-Bedard-insists-there-is-nothing-wrong-with-Hurricanes-goalkeeper.jpg)
Donato, who missed two matches due to illness in mid-January, had only one point (an assist against Vancouver).
Not that he didn’t have a chance. He and teammates Colin Blackwell and MacKenzie Entwistle have had their share of missed opportunities and unfortunate moments.
“For me, I always pray to get those chances,” Donato said. “I always work hard and reach these (dirty) areas and end up getting opportunities. Sometimes they go, sometimes they don’t. … I resist as much as I can.”
“He’s not the fastest skater; that was never his thing,” Richardson admitted.
“He’s a shooter and had a great opportunity last night at three-on-five. But unfortunately he was a little too close and didn’t get in.”
Donato remains confident that his luck with the puck will eventually return.
“I’ve been through a lot in my career where you score one goal and then all of a sudden the floodgates open, you score three or four goals in a few games,” he said. “I need to keep that positive mindset and keep working.”
Richardson appreciates his determined attitude and hopes it permeates the team.
“Like, a hot Boston guy,” he said. “And he always gives you his best, so you’ll never question his work ethic or character.
“Just like all of us right now, sometimes goals are hard to achieve. But you’ll never complain about not shooting because if he has the chance, he takes it.”
5. Bedard doesn’t feel trapped in the “bubble.”
![Connor Bedard (98) of the Chicago Blackhawks views the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)](https://bestamericancomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1708506719_23_Connor-Bedard-insists-there-is-nothing-wrong-with-Hurricanes-goalkeeper.jpg)
Asked if he was aware of the face shield covering his face, Bedard said: “Not really, no.”
“I’ve worn it for a short time before. “I don’t care too much,” he said.
Bedard wore a full visor while playing for Canada at the 2023 World Juniors. He has worn it in all three matches since then. bouncing back from a broken jaw Open February 15.
He said that he got used to it in a day or two and that it did not bother him, except for occasional fogging.
“Honestly, the viewfinder is nice, but it doesn’t impress me too much. I don’t care,” he said.
Of course, someone pointed out that the balloon would give him an advantage in the fight.
“Yes, absolutely,” Bedard said. “Punching the fishbowl would feel a little more comfortable than punching the face. But I don’t think I’ll be fighting anytime soon.”
If you put on that bubble face shield, it would be the perfect time to pick a fight.
Connor Bedard: “Yes, definitely. It would feel a little more comfortable to punch the fish bowl instead of punching him in the face. But I don’t think I’ll be fighting anytime soon.” pic.twitter.com/ps6NS8fQ1U
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 20, 2024
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