NHL's top draft pick has goals in three straight games and five overall. Linemate Philipp Kurashev was motoring and Taylor Hall scored first goal with Chicago in his return from IR.
Rookie Connor Bedard wristed in his fifth goal in 10 games with a deceptive shot, then faced the United Center crowd with a curious celly.
Taylor Hall capped a three-goal outburst in the first period with his first goal as a Blackhawk, busting down left wing and firing in a shot between the goalie's legs after being activated off injured reserve.
Bedard's linemate Philipp Kurashev was jumping and had two assists before dumping in empty-netter to seal Chicago's 5-2 win over Florida on Saturday night.
This was more like it for the Blackhawks, even if the Panthers came on late and Petr Mrazek had to made 38 saves — and be grateful a couple of others hit the crossbar or post. The Blackhawks won their first game at home this season in three tries and improved to 4-6-0 overall.
Chicago Came Out Buzzing
Following an 8-1 drubbing by the Coyotes in Arizona on Monday, Chicago came out with jump in the first of home games on back-to-back nights.
Nick Foligno, Nikita Zaitsev and Hall connected in the first to give Chicago a 3-0 lead. Bedard beat Anthony Stolarz in the second to up it to 4-0, then the Blackhawks held on before a crowd of 18,666.
"It's nice to see a goal go in and, you know, check that box off," Hall said. "And the win, more importantly, was to get a 3-0 lead and play and to play the way we wanted to.
"I would have loved to see us play with that jam all night long, but they're a good team and they're pretty battle tested. So overall, we'll take the two points and try to bounce back tomorrow." SEE VIDEO
On Sunday, the Blackhawks face the New Jersey Devils, who may be without Jack Hughes. The NHL's leading scorer suffered an upper-body injury when he crashed into the boards in St. Louis on Friday night.
Bedard Update
Bedard scored for the third straight game and for the fourth time in five. The line for the NHL's top 2023 draft pick stands at five goals, two assists seven points, and 30 shots on goal to lead all rookies.
Bedard had two shots on Saturday and attempted two more.
And the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Bedard was feisty in this one, along with fellow rookies. He assertively tussled and shoved with larger opponents a couple of times.
"I thought (Kevin) Korchinksi had a great game too," coach Luke Richardson said. "I thought (Wyatt) Kaiser was right into the mix, battling right to the end.
"It's good to see. They're obviously feeling comfortable at this level, in this league to battle with the men they're playing against. I think that show maturity and that they're all-in with the team. It's not just about the flash."
Bedard also blocked a shot and endured his first NHL "walk of shame," skating back from the penalty box after Florida's Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored a power-play goal while Bedard was off for high-sticking in the third period.