The Chicago Blackhawks (14–25–2) took care of business at the United Center behind a goal and an assist from their 19-year-old phenom center Connor Bedard in a 3–1 beating of the Colorado Avalanche. Petr Mrazek stopped 35 shots in a sensational night in net for his eighth win of the season, and first since Nov. 27.
“Long time no win,” Mrazek said after the game. “After I came back from injury, I haven’t got a win. Early on, I saw a lot of pucks, so that was the key for me tonight. I just was battling since I returned, every day on the ice, in the practice, in the game. I knew I can make some saves, and I knew there was going to be a game that I could prove I can still play the game.”
First period
Colorado scored its only goal of the night at the 6:14 mark of the period when 23-year-old Finnish center Juuso Parssinen scored on the backhand to give the Avalanche a 1–0 lead. Parssinen took a loose puck the length of the ice and beat Mrazek with an excellent back shot over the glove hand.
Chicago would tie the score behind forward Ilya Mikheyev’s eighth goal of the season, assisted by Bedard. Bedard did a nice job on the forecheck to tip a pass from an Avalanche defenseman and Mikheyev took the puck to the net and fired a wrist shot past goaltender Trent Miner, making his first career NHL start.
The goal is a prime example of making a good play in the offensive zone on the defensive side of things that creates a chance for your teammate; the simple reason “experts” cannot just look at a stat sheet and decide who played well and who did not.
Chicago goal!
Scored by Ilya Mikheyev with 03:12 remaining in the 1st period.
Assisted by Connor Bedard.
Chicago: 1
Colorado: 1#COLvsCHI #Blackhawks #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/s249Q5pCPy— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) January 9, 2025
Second period
Frank Nazar scored his first goal of the season and forward Colton Dach registered the first point of his NHL career at the 10:17 mark of the middle frame when Nazar fired a wrist shot past Miner. The goal was also assisted by forward Tuevo Teravainen, his 19th assist on the season.
Postgame, this is what Bedard had to say about Nazar.
“You see Frankie getting better every game and playing really well and creating a lot,” Bedard said. “It feels like every game is his next best game. It’s so fun to watch. Just the amount of skill and poise he has. To see him put one in, I’m sure he’s going to go on a roll now.”
Frank’s first NHL goal of the season 🤝 Dach’s first NHL point pic.twitter.com/b1S1gTykJr
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 9, 2025
Having been outshot 26–15 after two periods of play, Chicago could not be upset with the 2–1 lead after two periods of play.
Third period
Chicago would score the only goal of the last period as Bedard buried home a wrist shot past Miner for his 11th goal of the season. The goal, assisted by Tyler Bertuzzi and Seth Jones, came at the 11:54 mark of the period.
Connor Bedard scores his 11th goal of the season. pic.twitter.com/3pcrBF5mpY
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) January 9, 2025
Chicago would be outshot 36–20 for the game but would win 57.4% of the draws for those who do not think faceoffs are important.
Analysis
This is the type of game fans have been yearning for for months. Bedard, Dach and Nazar all found the scoresheet and the goaltending was outstanding. The three young forwards are the next generation of players who will take this rebuild to where it should finish. However, Bedard is and will always be the centerpiece, whether local “experts” want him to be or not. The 19-year-old makes plays well beyond his age and those in the know can just chuckle about what they were doing at the age of 19 in comparison.
Nazar finding the back of the net was a nice thing to see. The 20-year-old Michigan native does a lot of things to help his team win that do not end up on the scoresheet, but when he does, he is going to very impactful player for a very long time.
Mrazek finally got a win and it was nice to see. Being a goaltender behind this defense, young group of players and hodge-podge of slowing veterans cannot be easy. For as much as he makes you want to lose your hair some nights, Mrazek is the type of veteran this team needs as the downs will be more than the ups right now.