Connor Bedard scores first goal, but Bruins roll past Blackhawks 3-1 in Boston

A little greasy. Simple and direct. Quick and sneaky at the same time.

It didn't take long for Connor Bedard to score his first goal in the NHL.

The top 2023 draft pick tucked in the puck from the left side of the net just 5:37 into the first period of his second game to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 1-0 lead over the Bruins in Boston on Wednesday night. See the link from the Blackhawks: https://x.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/1712254197981176142?s=20

But that was all the Blackhawks got. The Bruins took over in the second period, then held on for a 3-1 win to open their 100th season in the NHL.

Trent Frederic tied it on a deflection midway through the first. Then sniper David Pastrnak snapped a shot past Arvid Söderblom's glove from the slot to put Boston ahead 2-1 with 6:51 left in the second. See link: https://x.com/WatcherBruins/status/1712272247128289371?s=20

Pastrnak added an empty-netter with 57 seconds remaining in regulation to ice it.

Bedard had a prime chance to tie it, set up by Lukas Reichel late in the third, but was denied by Ullmark.

Söderblom was solid, making 32 saves, as Chicago played its second road game in two nights. The Blackhawks came from behind late to win 4-2 in Pittsburgh on Tuesday and seemed to run out of gas against the Bruins.

Bedard fired a shot from a sharp angle on reigning Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark, who made the save. The rebound ended up in traffic behind the net. Bedard kept skating, picked up the puck and curled it inside the left post before Ullmark could slide across.

“It’s a big relief,” said Bedard, who had with the puck in the locker room “You want to get one really bad, quick, and kind of get that out of the way. But it was really cool moment and cool building to do it in.

“I remember, like, being behind the net and kind of seeing it and I was just like, ‘Don’t screw this up,’” Bedard added. “And then once it went in, just a lot of joy, for sure."

Bedard finished with a game-high six shots, including several prime chances. That included one in the first period from the slot that Ullmark robbed him on from about 10 feet out. The 18-year-old forward's mom, dad and sister — in attendance at the TD Garden — moaned in disbelief.  https://x.com/CRoumeliotis/status/1712260880698589420?s=20

Bedard also took his first penalty, for tripping  Brad Marchand at 7:48 of the second. Bedard showed a dash of feistiness against Bruins new captain — and veteran agitator – after Marchand hooked and yanked him in the first period. See link: https://x.com/CRoumeliotis/status/1712259155266814139?s=20

Taylor Hall, who started again on a line with Bedard, suffered an upper-body injury in his return to Boston on a hit from Brando Carlo early in the second period. The 31-year-old winger returned for a shift, then left for the rest of the game.

Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said Hall is out week-to-week after the blindside hit he called illegal.

“I think — especially being in Boston — he really wanted to get back out there and give it a go,” said Richardson, a longtime NHL defenseman. “I know exactly what it is because I used to do it all the time. But now it’s not in the game. So we just hope that there’s not a lot of those there that we see because they’re they’re not great for anybody.” 

Hall was acquired along with Nick Foligno from the Bruins on June 26, two days before the Blackhawks selected Bedard.

See coverage from The Hockey News Boston Bruins site at https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins/