Connor Bedard might still be the NHL's leading rookie scorer, but he and linemate Philipp Kurashev have joined the rest of the dead-last Chicago Blackhawks with a rock-bottom stat. Kurashev is an NHL-worst minus-34. Bedard is next at minus-31. Bedard in action against the Avalanche last Thursday. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0NzIxMTk1MTAxMjAxOTEy/usatsi_22657047_168401008_lowres.jpg] Bedard in action against the Avalanche last Thursday. Plus/minus often is as much a team stat as it is an individual one. (NHL teams used to keep them secret until the 1980s.) One or more mistakes by others can hurt a player's plus/minus numbers and vice versa. The Blackhawks, at 15-41-5, make plenty of them. Chicago has allowed 93 more goals than the measly 125 it's scored. Only San Jose has a worse goal differential. CHICAGO SLIDES INTO COLORADO FOR MONDAY GAME The Blackhawks are 1-11-3 in their last 15 and will try to end a 21-game road losing streak at Colorado on Monday night. The road slide dates to a 5-3 win at Tampa Bay on Nov. 9 when Bedard had two goals and two assists. Kurashev talks to reporters. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAyMzEwNjkyNDg3ODMyNjQ0/kurashev-effort-loss-at-nashville.jpg] Kurashev talks to reporters. Bedard has 17 goals and 41 points in 47 games to lead all first-year skaters and Chicago. The speedy 24-year-old Kurashev has 10 goals and 34 points to rank second on the team. The line of Bedard, Kurashev and Ryan Donato accounted for all of Chicago's offense in a 5-2 loss to Columbus on Saturday. Kurashev and Bedard were on the ice for four Blue Jackets goals, leaving them both at a minus-2 for the night. Alexandre Texier scored just 33 seconds in when Bedard passed off the boards to defenseman Seth Jones in Chicago slot. Jones could handle it and Texier jumped on the puck. One minus. With Chicago goalie Arvid Söderblom pulled an extra attacker, Johnny Gaudreau fired into an empty net with 2:25 left. Bedard and Kurashev were on the ice to lead the attack. Another minus. "I think at the end of the game, we finally got some offense going, but we've got to be responsible in our end," Kurashev said. "We've got to do it both ways. It can't just be one side." Bedard was involved physically in the game, bumping Alexander Nylander off the puck to set up Kurashev's goal. The rookie took four shots on goal, including three prime attempts that were stopped by Elvis Merzlikins. GETTING FRUSTRATING Bedard has started to show the frustration on the ice, even if he's been even-keeled when talking to reporters. "It's hard. Its sucks," Bedard said. "You never want to lose. It's always frustrating, ask anyone in the room. You try to stay positive and just try to win the next game. "It's all over your mind and you don't know how to fix it. We're just kind of growing and trying to get better as a group" See following video. Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard on playing for the NHL's dead-last team.
