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The Chicago Blackhawks picked up another key two points in a 4-0 victory over the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday night. The win moves the Blackhawks to 2-2-1 during their current six-game road trip, which finally ends on Sunday afternoon in Detroit, against Patrick Kane and the Red Wings.
Connor Bedard carried the Blackhawks to victory in Calgary with a spectacular four-point (1G, 3A) performance, while Spencer Knight stopped all 33 shots faced to record his first shutout with Chicago. Tyler Bertuzzi tallied another two goals, giving him five over the past six periods, and Andre Burakovsky added two points (1G, 1A) to continue a red-hot start to his Blackhawks tenure.
Bedard extended his point streak to seven games on Friday and also racked up his second four-point effort in the last 11 days. Like he’s been throughout the early portion of the season, Bedard was lethal against the Flames and has been more dangerous than ever to start his third NHL campaign. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick has 15 points (6G, 9A) during his current point streak, which has vaulted him up to second in the NHL with 22 points on the season. The only man he’s trailing? That would be 2024 No. 1 overall pick, Macklin Celebrini, of the San Jose Sharks.
While Bedard was leading the way offensively once again, it was Knight who backstopped the Blackhawks to their second consecutive win. After a 43-save showing on Wednesday in Vancouver, where his shutout bid got broken up late in the third period, Knight fittingly blanked the Flames in the following contest. Friday’s game hung in the balance through 40 minutes, but Knight was cool as a cucumber to keep Calgary off the board and his team ahead going into the third period. The 24-year-old goaltender is now 6-3-2 on the season with a 2.33 goals-against average and .926 save percentage. Knight is also first among all NHL goaltenders with 10.7 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck.
Here are the highlights and key takeaways from the Blackhawks’ 4-0 win over the Flames, moving them to 7-5-3 through 15 games on the year.
The Blackhawks kicked off the scoring on the man advantage just over the midway point of the period, as Bedard found Bertuzzi, aka “The Human Backboard”, in his office for his seventh goal of the season and fourth over the last two games. It didn’t take very long for Bedard to extend his point streak. Artyom Levshunov also tallied the secondary assist, giving him five points in the past six contests.
Artyom Levshunov➡️Connor Bedard➡️Tyler Bertuzzi🚨
Bedard feeds Bertuzzi in front for his 7th goal of the season to put the #Blackhawks ahead 1-0! Bedard extends his point streak to 7 games with the assist. Bertuzzi now tied for the team lead in goals.pic.twitter.com/otT4aB6V7V
Less than 30 seconds later, Joel Farabee chopped Frank Nazar down to the ice in the offensive zone, and he was slow to get up and immediately headed to the Blackhawks dressing room. Nazar was ruled out for the remainder of the game due to an undisclosed injury, but fortunately, head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed after that it’s only a day-to-day issue. A major sigh of relief there, as it was an awkward tumble from Nazar.
Frank Nazar has gone to the locker room. He fell awkwardly here: pic.twitter.com/vPskUKWFzb
Blackhawks’ big power forward Colton Dach didn’t take too kindly to Farabee’s play on Nazar, as he challenged him to a fight later on in the period. Dach easily overpowered Farabee in a quick scrap. Love to see these young players stick up for one another.
Colton Dach overpowers Joel Farabee in a quick scrap👊#Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/0hou9hVHu2
Fists were flying early and often in the middle stanza, as Alex Vlasic dropped the gloves with MacKenzie Weegar after the Flames’ defenseman took a run at Oliver Moore in the neutral zone. Vlasic, not known as a fighter despite his large 6-foot-6 frame, wasted no time in chasing down Weegar and handled himself well in the scrap.
Alex Vlasic immediately steps in and drops the gloves with MacKenzie Weegar after he lined up Oliver Moore at center ice👊
Young #Blackhawks ain’t taking any crap.pic.twitter.com/IXayDcQtey
The Blackhawks captain, Nick Foligno, was involved in the next tango, as he faced off with Joel Hanley after laying a big hit on young Flames forward Connor Zary. Foligno threw a handful (see what I did there) of strong punches to get the better of Hanley in the fight.
Now Nick Foligno drops the mitts with Joel Hanley & feeds him some right hands👊#Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/Q3T6AT2rd7
There were two fights and several skirmishes in the period, but neither team found the back of the net. The Blackhawks remained ahead 1-0 going into the third, largely because of their goaltender. Calgary led 22-17 in shots on goal and 7-3 in high-danger chances after 40 minutes.
The Blackhawks busted the game open in the final frame, and it was Bedard and Bertuzzi once again connecting to kickstart the late fireworks. After an excellent chip out of the defensive zone by Burakovsky, Bedard set up Bertuzzi on a 2-on-1 rush for his eighth goal of the season, second of the game, and FIFTH over the last six periods! RED HOT! Bedard earned his second primary assist of the night with a perfect pass.
Andre Burakovsky➡️Connor Bedard➡️Tyler Bertuzzi🚨
Bedard finds Bertuzzi once again for his team-leading 8th goal of the season & 5th (!) in the last 2 games to put the #Blackhawks ahead 2-0! Bedard with his 2nd assist of the night. What a pass!pic.twitter.com/n2aSgpfGVE
The Flames were getting desperate late in the game, and the Blackhawks’ top forwards found themselves with another odd-man rush. Once again, it was Bedard wheeling into the offensive zone to find an open teammate, and this time, Burakovsky was on the receiving end for his sixth goal of the season and second point of the game. Make that THREE primary assists for Bedard.
Connor Bedard➡️Andre Burakovsky🚨
Burakovsky RIPS home his 6th goal of the season to put the #Blackhawks ahead 3-0! Bedard with his THIRD primary assist of the game! Burakovsky with his 2nd point of the night. SIZZLING🔥pic.twitter.com/1LpsxecYPl
Just when it seemed like the night couldn’t get any better, Bedard pulled off one of the best goals of his young career to cap off a dominant performance. After stripping Morgan Frost of the puck in the Flames’ end, Bedard made an unbelievable series of dangles to leave Dustin Wolf in the dust and tuck home his eighth goal of the season. What an EPIC way to close out a win. Bedard is now tied with Bertuzzi for the Blackhawks’ lead in goals.
Connor Bedard🚨
Bedard turns defense into offense & pulls off a NASTY finish for his 8th goal of the season & FOURTH point on the night! Bedard ties Macklin Celebrini for most points in the NHL. THE KID IS UNREAL🔥HIGHLIGHT TIME!#Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/DIKaS1DTQf
After scoring his beautiful goal, all Bedard could do was throw up his hands as if to say, “ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED, FLAMES FANS?”
pic.twitter.com/OUPFIuVzXP
The Blackhawks entered their six-game road trip with great momentum, as they won three of their previous four games before departing for Winnipeg last Wednesday. They were also coming off a 7-3 beating over the Ottawa Senators in their final home game before the trip, where Bedard potted his first NHL hat trick and picked up his first four-point game of the season.
But that momentum was quickly halted by the Jets in a 6-3 loss, and then again by the Edmonton Oilers and Seattle Kraken in the next two outings. The Blackhawks were 0-2-1 in the first three games of the road trip, and it appeared that their exciting and entertaining run to begin the season was fading.
These last two games proved otherwise, as this young roster showed a remarkable amount of character and fight to get the road trip back on track. The Blackhawks bested the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Wednesday, a team they hadn’t beaten since Nov. 21, 2021, and they followed that up with another crucial win in Calgary.
All of a sudden, the Blackhawks have earned five of a possible ten points with one game remaining before finally heading back to Chicago. Given the direction things were trending after a 3-1 loss in Seattle on Monday, it’s been an incredible turn of events on the back half of the trip.
They may be young and inexperienced, but these kids have already shown a courageous resiliency that’s helped establish a new culture in the locker room. Improvements are being made with each passing game, and it’s been a treat to watch them battle for each other early on this season.
We’ll see if they can carry this new momentum into Little Caesars Arena and wrap up the roadie with another win in an Original Six matchup on Sunday. 12 p.m. CT kickoff — erm, I mean puck drop.
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Blackhawks Rule Key Forward Out For Rest of Game vs. Flames
Blackhawks Rule Key Forward Out For Rest of Game vs. Flames
Blackhawks Game 15: Preview, Projected Lineups, & How To Watch vs. Flames
Jack’s Daily: Gajan Wins NCHC Award; Ovechkin’s 900th; Celebrini NHL Leader
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