Blackhawks, Connor Bedard sputter in second, fall 3-2 in Montréal

Canadiens fans at the Bell Centre playfully booed Connor Bedard, the ultra-hyped opposing star, every time the Blackhawks rookie touched the puck in the first period as the two Original Six teams met in Montréal on Saturday night.

Good thing the game wasn't played at the United Center in Chicago. Blackhawks fans would have been booing their own team during its disjointed second frame.

Chicago was wholly outplayed in the middle period, allowing three straight goals that led to a 3-2 loss to the Habs.

Tyler Johnson swatted in two goals in the third, including one with 1:21 left in regulation and goalie Petr Mrazek on bench for an extra attacker. Bedard picked up the second assist on the score, giving him a point in each of his first three games.

The Blackhawks, including Bedard, were plain lousy in the second period as the Canadiens jumped ahead 3-0.

Cole Caufield beat rookie defenseman Kevin Korchinski, then Mrazek from a sharp angle 3:54 into the period to open the scoring. Tanner Pearson fired in a high shot 4 minutes later to make it 2-0.

The back-breaker: A short-handed score by Sean Monahan with 2:22 left in the frame as the Blackhawks flubbed their fifth of seven power plays on the night. Chicago is 0 for 14 with the man advantage so far this season.

Chicago's power play personnel — including Bedard — were making wrong choices most of the night against Montréal's perky penalty kill.  

"I think early we had some good (puck) movement, then just some frustration," coach Luke Richardson said. "When frustration sets in, you make poor decisions."

Monahan made it 3-0 after Bedard's shot sailed high and wide of the net. The puck bounded up the left boards and, with a poke from Rafael Harvey-Pinard, got to Monahan who motored up the middle and ripped a shot past Mrazek.

"I think we've got to be sharper" Richardson said. "They got the short-handed goal and in the end that really killed us."

Johnson pounced on a loose puck 35 seconds into the third and fired it behind Sam Montembeault to cut it to 3-1. 

After Johnson cut it to 3-2, Bedard took a stick in the mouth with 22 seconds remaining from Monahan — drawing a double-minor — as the rookie scrambled to control the puck with an empty net behind him. 

Chicago closed out the night on the power-play, but a shot from Seth Jones hit the post and the Blackhawks ran out of time.

Bedard finished with five shots on goal, while attempting 12. Three were blocked and four missed the net.

"I think he had a couple of shots tonight that just missed," Richardson said. "I don't think generally his misses too many."

Bedard was out for some exceptionally long shifts on the power play in the first period. The 18-year old center finished with 22:40 of ice time, 8:01 during man advantages.

Bedard won just one of nine faceoffs.

Both Bedard and Richardson got a kick out of Montréal fans showing, more or less, their respect by booing and trying to rile the Blackhawks' phenom.

“I loved it, it was great,” Bedard said. “I didn’t really think about it before the game but I thought it was awesome.

“I haven’t done anything yet (in my career), I’m just starting, but to get that right now is good, and I think that makes the game more fun when the crowd is really into it like that … I enjoy that stuff.”

Added Richardson, a former Canadiens assistant coach: "They were just doing it to be the hometown fans to help the hometown team. I’m sure they were cheering for him in the World Juniors."

Mrazek was sharp to keep it scoreless in the first after the Canadiens came out with some verve following extended player introductions and ceremonies for their home opener. He stopped 33 shots for the game,