Bedard, Philipp Kurashev and Nick Foligno — featuring his senior spin-o-rama — led the attack. Odds are the trio skates together again versus the Coyotes in Arizona on Monday. See story with videos.
Connor Bedard centered Philipp Kurashev on the left wing and Nick Foligno on the right in the Blackhawks 4-3 OT win in Vegas against the Golden Knights on Friday.
The trio generated ample scoring chances as Chicago rebounded from a slow start and early two-goal deficit to skate toe-to-toe with the defending Stanley Cup champions. When Kurashev beat Adin Hill during a 4-on-3 power play in the extra period, Vegas lost for the first time this season after starting with seven wins.
Bedard scored his third goal of the season late in the first period to tie it at 2. He slipped past two Golden Knights defenders, broke down the slot and took a nifty, one-handed swipe pass from Foligno.
Bedard liked the way the line clicked. He has 25 shots on goal for the season, tying him for the rookie lead heading into Sunday. See video.
Foligno had the flashiest play of the game, turning in a "senior spin-o-rama" driving against defenseman Alex Pietrangelo.
The left-handed shooting Foligno, who turns 36 on Halloween, pivoted on his right skate, spun and fired a low shot past Pietrangelo and on Hill, who make a pad save. Foligno kept moving and retrieved the rebound behind the net. See the link with video from NBC Sports Chicago: https://x.com/CRoumeliotis/status/1718056310875246928?s=20
Check out Bedard's comments on Foligno, who's twice his age, in the following video.
For the game, the Kurashev-Bedard-Foligno line had two goals, six shots on goal and attempted 11 more shots (seven blocked, four missed).
- Bedard: One goal, three shots on goal on six total attempted shots.
- Kurashev: One goal, one shot on goal on four total attempted shots
- Foligno: No goals, two shots on goal on seven total attempted shots.
Mr. Jones: Shot and time machine.
Chicago anchor defenseman Seth Jones, who had a game leading 29:07 of ice time, took five shots on goal and attempted five others.
Jones saw his workload climb even higher than usual after rookie D-man Alex Vlasic exited following a high and hard, but clean, shoulder-to-shoulder hit from Brett Howden. Vlasic was tired at the end of a shift and vulnerable.
Rookies Kevin Korchinski and Wyatt Kaiser also stepped up to help, Richardson said. See video.
Mr. Vlasic: Pickled by hit.
The 22-year-old Vlasic, impressive so far this season, was dazed after the check and "wobbly" according to Richardson.
Alex VlasicEven a legal impact hit can cause a whiplash effect in the head that leads to a concussion. The brain can jiggle like an egg in an eggshell.
The 6-foot-6 Vlasic is from Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb on Chicago's North Shore. He's the cousin of San Jose D-Man Marc-Édouard Vlasic.
The Blackhawks recalled defenseman Isaak Phillips from Rockford of the AHL on Sunday, indicating that Vlasic will need time to recover. Expect an update after Sunday afternoon's practice in Tempe, Arizona.