Killer Connor? Blackhawks Bedard Said Hit On Patrick Kane Was No Big Deal

Blackhawks rookie said he was "just finishing a check" when he shouldered hard into Kane along the boards on Sunday in Detroit forward's return to Chicago.

Connor Bedard is most effective when he's feisty and forcing things.

And by happenstance, Patrick Kane felt a little bit of that feistiness. Maybe a little force, too.

Bedard closed in for a high shot at Detroit goalie James Reimer about 4 minutes into the third period of Sunday's game at the United Center between the Blackhawks and Red Wings. After circling the net, the 18-year-old Bedard laid his left shoulder and a reasonable hockey hit into the 35-year-old Kane on the boards in the Detroit zone.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgofjYCrBt8

All eyes were on Kane. It was hit first game back in Chicago since being traded a year ago and subsequently signing with Detroit. In 16 seasons with the Blackhawks, Kane won three Stanley Cup and posted 1,225 points, second only to Stan Mikita on the team's all-time list. 

Bedard, the NHL's leading rookie scorer, is one of two No. 1 overall draft picks in Blackhawks history. Kane is the other, in 2007.

Bedard downplayed the collision, with a little bit of a grin.

"I get it for sure," Bedard said on Wednesday. "I'm just saying from my point of view, just finishing a check. 

"It's funny it ended up being him, I guess. For us, we don't think about it like that, for the fans with No. 1 picks or whatever... I thought it was funny." See video.

Most of the Blackhawks players didn't see the play, since it occurred along the boards on the same side as the player benches. Many didn't learn about it until coaches showed video clips on Tuesday.

Kane joked about the hit after the game. He had the last laugh after scoring on a breakaway 1:43 into overtime to lift Detroit to a 3-2 win. 

Kane also assisted on former Blackhawk Alex DeBrincat's game-tying score with 4:16 left in regulation to extend his point streak. It's now up to nine games with five goals and nine assists in the run.

"He’s a great player, very creative," Kane said of Bedard. "Got a little physical on me in the corner there. He’s lucky he had the bubble on or I was going after him."

Bedard is wearing a full polycarbonate facial shield after coming back from a broken jaw that sidelined him for 14 games.

This wasn't the first time Bedard got physical on a prominent player. He visibly "finished a check" on Winnipeg defenseman Josh Morrissey behind the net on Dec. 27 in a game in Chicago. 

Bedard scored both goals, including his only one so far in overtime, in the Blackhawks 2-1 win over the Jets in that one.

Coach Luke Richardson and his staff have encouraged Bedard's assertiveness through a little physical contact. Bedard says he coming up to NHL standards. See the following video