Blackhawks, Connor Bedard Fall to Caps 4-2 in Homestand Finale

Connor Bedard had two assists to increase his hold on the NHL rookie scoring lead, but the Chicago Blackhawks were stopped by Washington goalie Darcy Kuemper and the Capitals 4-2 on Sunday.

Philipp Kurashev and Connor Murphy scored, both capping plays Bedard created. The 18-year-old center upped his numbers to 11 goals and 12 assists in 27 games.

But the Blackhawks failed to convert early chances against Kuemper, who finished with 32 saves. The veteran goalie rebounded against Chicago after allowing three goals on five shots in a start at Arizona last Monday and being pulled in midway through the first period.

"He in those first two period was outstanding," Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. "There was a couple of in-tight Grade-A's I felt he made four or five massive saves, whether it was 0-0 and just let us get back in the fight."

The Caps did and the Hawks fell to 9-17-1.

The Blackhawks entered having won back-to-back games for the first time this season. Chicago had earned five of six points in the first three games of a four-game homestand, but couldn't close it out with a victory.

“We took it to them a lot of that (first) period, then (in the second) they came out and took it to us and we didn’t match that," Blackhawks forward and de facto captain Nick Foligno said. "That’s the difference in the game. We score, we kinda' sit back and they push, get the momentum back."  See video.

Kurashev gave Chicago a 1-0 lead at 6:49 of the second period with a tap-in from the edge of the crease. He converted Seth Jones’ cross-ice feed to cap a crisp passing play started by Bedard.

But Anthony Mantha, former Blackhawk Dylan Strome and Nic Dowd scored in a 7:12 span late in the second to put Washington ahead 3-1.

Mantha tied it on a breakaway at 8:11 

Strome put Chicago ahead 2-1 with 6:50 left in the period after T.J. Oshie knocked 6-foot-6 Chicago rookie defenseman Alex Vlasic off the puck behind the net with a big hit. Strome was open on the left side on the crease and directed in Joel Edmundson’s feed.

Dowd made 3-1 just 93 seconds later to cap a scrum at the net. 

“Those are the ones we have to get out of our game," Foligno said. "We have to find a way where, if a team gets one, they can’t get two or three after that. We’ve got to nip that in the bud.”

Dowd added a second goal late in the third. Murphy pinched in and completed the scoring with 1:42 left off Bedard's backhand, cross-ice feed.

“I thought we had more of our sustained game in this homestand," Foligno said. "That’s good. But you want to get greedy and really feel good about yourself going on the road. It’s a step in the right direction but a long ways to go.”

The Blackhawks play Connor McDavid and the Oilers in Edmonton on Tuesday.

Forward Ryan Donato should be ready to play after missing two games with an illness.

Coach Luke Richardson isn't sure when rookie defenseman Kevin Korchinski will rejoin the team. Korchinski, from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, left the club on Friday to attend a family matter.