The 19-year-old rookie gave the puck to his mother, Stacey, for safekeeping. She and other Blackhawks moms were with team in Tampa to see Chicago beat Lightning 5-3 in first stop of Florida trip.

Connor Bedard, with his first multi-point game, wasn't only Blackhawks rookie with a milestone in Chicago's 5-3 win over the Lightning in Tampa on Thursday night.

Kevin Korchinski, the Blackhawks top defenseman prospect, got his first NHL goal in his 12th game. He already had three assists.

It wasn't a thing of beauty, but Korchinski's deflected tally from left wing tied the game at 2 with 3:17 left in the first period and started a run of four straight Blackhawks scores in a 5:29 span that propelled Chicago to the victory. See the video at https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/video/chi-tbl-korchinski-scores-goal-against-lightning-6340833969112

It started with a faceoff win by MacKenzie Entwistle, then a cross ice feed by Ryan Donato to Korchinski. The smooth skating 19-year-old D-man closed to the left circle, and his shot into a goalmouth scrum first ticked off Alex Barré-Boulet, then Darren Raddysh and into the net.

Korchinski, actually was trying to pass through the slot to Entwistle on the far side of the crease. See his full explanation in the video.

"I was looking for Twisty (Entwistle) backdoor; it just hit a skate and went in," Korchinski said. "It's a pretty exciting atmosphere.

"It's a cool moment. Obviously with my mom here, it's special."

Korchinski's mother, Stacey, was with other Blackhawks players' moms in the stands of Amalie Arena on the team's biennial trip for them.

Was Afraid He Might Lose Puck

The rangy 6-foot-1 D-man said he was glad Stacey was there not only to witness the goal — on his 11th shot — but to hold on to the puck for safekeeping. 

Korchinski got the puck after Entwistle grabbed it out of the net. He said he was afraid he might lose it.

The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native was drafted by the Blackhawks in the first round, seventh overall, in 2022 using a pick Chicago acquired from Ottawa in a trade that sent Alex DeBrincat to the Senators.

Korchinski played three seasons with Seattle of the WHL and with Bedard on Canada's goal medal World Junior Championship team in January.

He signed a three-year entry level contract with the Blackhawks in August 2022. Korchinski returned to Seattle last season, but this year has remained with Chicago and "burned through" the first year of the contract by playing in 10 games or more.