Is the Islanders' four-overtime "Easter Epic," the greatest victory in franchise history? Some critics believe that the melodramatic seventh game triumph over Washington on April 18, 1987 fills the bill. Check out Fischler's Flashback for your answer. Stan was there to see it firsthand! It is a measure of Connor Bedard's attractiveness as a story that even on a night when he strikes out -- goal-wise -- and his Blackhawks lose, he commands attention. Exhibit A was on display last Thursday night at Ball Arena in Denver. After Chicago completed its fifth straight road game, the headline read AVS SHUT OUT BEDARD. Or, to put it another way, whenever the National Hockey League's most famous freshman does nothing, he's still something. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjg0MjQzNTkwNDI0MzQw/usatsi_21702969.jpg] Mind you, The Maven is not demeaning Super Lad. Not a bit. Coach Luke Richardson gave him 19:37 of ice time. That prompted Colorado's bench boss, Jared Bednar, to blanket Bedard like an infield tarpaulin in a rainstorm. As a result, North Vancouver, British Columbia's most famous son, emerged with a goose egg's worth of shots on goal in his team's 4-0 loss. But that only shows that one can lie with statistics. The Blackhawks' answer to Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane already had compiled 28 individual scoring chances, which averaged seven per game. Not too bad, I'd say. (That tied Connor with Toronto's madcap Auston Matthews.) Which brings me to the point: Since Connor has been THE STORY at such whistle-stops as Pittsburgh, Boston, Montreal, and Toronto, is he being blinded by bright bulbs too soon? The Maven is thinking, it's just fine, just as it was for Sir Sidney Crosby when he broke in with the Penguins. As Bedard's I.Q. (Intensity Quotient) rises, so does it benefit the NHL and its Windy City representative as well. Or as one jeweler on State Street -- that Great Streak -- put it, "If you have The Hope Diamond, you put it front and center in your window. Why not?" Well, one witness for the "Nots" happens to be Bedard's dressing room godfather, Taylor Hall, who happened to have been a first-round pick as well. "At times, it (publicity) can be a little much for him," said Hall. "He doesn't say that but he feels it is;" The Maven counters that, being hounded by surrounding media for so many years (as a Junior scoring machine), Bedard handles it as easy as exhaling. Even linemate Hall allowed, "He's never complained. I like Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman's perfect squelch: "The league has to embrace the cult of personality." Nor has it been easy for Bedard, competition-wise. The Hawks opened the season with five consecutive road games and finished 2-3. Considering that Chi has unanimously been picked to finish Next to Davy Jones' Locker at the bottom of the Central Division, I'm impressed. "Connor has handled it well," concluded Hall. Friedman adds, "Bedard's attitude has been excellent." By that, he means handling the media, not to mention the puck and everything else that goes with having center stage! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'M JUST SAYIN' * Beef about the Oilers' second-gear start should not worry anyone, with the possible exception of GM Kenny Holland. * Edmonton's favorite NHL team lacks passion for the pure and simple reason that McDavid, Inc. is a guaranteed playoff team and the postseason is seven months away. * That said, the Oil lacks a top one defenseman, and don't tell me that Darnell Nurse or Evan Bouchard have reached that coveted level. * Or ever will. * Wouldn't it be something if King Connor McDavid could double on the blue line. * Then again, that would make him Erik Karlsson. * Pardon me while I root for John Davidson's Blue Jackets because I love a class act like J.D. I adore underdogs like the BJ's. * My good pal, Sportsnet's Justin Bourne, poses a compelling question: "How much time will the Leafs need to turn around their slow start?" * Well, since you ask, Justin. Toronto's corner-turn will happen immediately after the next Auston Matthews hat trick. * Arizona will finish higher than the predicted seventh in the Central Division, at least partly because of the most underrated general staff in the NHL. * That's right, I'm a big fan of the Bill Armstrong-Andre Tourigny high command. * Now, all they have to do in terrific Tempe is fast-track plans for an arena. * And I don't mean maybe either -- REAL FAST! * Too bad Craig Anderson retired. He'd have been a splendid goalie coach for rookie Devon Levi. * THN's Buffalo guy noted in the Hockey Yearbook, Levi has been "thrown in the deep end." * There's a lot to like about Devon in addition to his being two-time NCAA Goalie of the year. * I happen to love his hometown name -- Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec. Ormeax=Abalone. * Hands raised, please; how many in the crowd would like a return to live jazz organ music between periods? * My right arm is held high! * The Maven's recommended theme song for the Maple Leafs: "It's You Or No One For Me." * The "You" is Stanley -- as in Cup. * Paul Maurice and his Panthers have turned South Florida into "hockey country." * Opening night crowd in Sunrise was a SRO 19,250. * Big changes in the Cats: nine newcomers to the team including four of the six defenders., * Coach Maurice's trick will be making good minus Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour -- both due back until December. * Nice gift for Paul: Evan Rodrigues, who skates alongside Alex Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe. * Smart Pick-Up Department: Ducks G,M. Pat Verbeek got good grit in D-man Radko Gudas.
