The Chicago Blackhawks were feeling good after a big 7–4 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday, and it showed in their performance at the United Center Tuesday night. Rookie phenom Connor Bedard had a goal and four assists, his first career five-point game, as the Blackhawks demolished the Anaheim Ducks 7–2. The game was highlighted in the third period, when several Blackhawks and Ducks players got into a skirmish, which included Hawks goalie Petr Mrazek and, eventually, Ducks goaltender John Gibson.
Goalie fight! Cmon!!!! #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/ajZFA696zN
— Puckin Hostile (@PuckinHostile.bsky.social) (@PuckinHostile) March 13, 2024
Anaheim took a 1–0 lead halfway through the first period on a Brett Leason shorthanded goal, following an absolutely beautiful backhand stretch pass from defenseman Cam Fowler next to his own goaltender. Just a minute later, Ryan Donato tied the game up for Chicago 1–1 on the power play. The first period ended all tied up despite the home team outshooting the Ducks 18–9.
The Blackhawks went down again, just a minute into the second period with another Leason goal off a Jarred Tinordi turnover, but that was all she wrote for the Ducks offense. Chicago got goals from Philipp Kurashev, Seth Jones and Bedard on just six second-period shots to take a 4–2 lead into the third period. Bedard’s goal, his 20th of the season, was a rocket of a one-timer with just 29 seconds left in the period fed to him by Kurashev, who had four points of his own on the night in the 250th game of his career.
Three more third-period goals from MacKenzie Entwistle, Kurashev and Tyler Johnson put the Ducks down for the night and had the United Center rocking so hard that the wave was going around the lower bowl. Mrazek finished with 27 saves for his 14th win of the season and the Blackhawks’ 18th of the season.
🏒 With his one goal and four assists on the night, Bedard has posted three goals and seven assists for 10 points in his last four outings. Sorry, Wild fans, but the Calder race is officially over…as if it was not already.
🏒 Bedard and Kurashev’s linemate Nick Foligno added four assists.
🏒 The Blackhawks had a very impressive 65.4% face-off percentage. Bedard was the only Blackhawks center to win less than half of his draws (33.3%). Jason Dickinson won 83%, Foligno won 78%, Entwisle won 67% and Johnson won 67%.
🏒 The Blackhawks had four power play goals (Donato, Jones, Kurashev and Johnson).
🏒 Plus/minus is a greatly imperfect stat, but Jaycob Megna was on the ice for three even-strength goals.
The Blackhawks will have a couple of days off and host the Los Angeles Kings on Friday evening at the United Center. The puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CDT.