Blackhawks' future looks bright as Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar deliver goals for first time together

CHICAGO Whenever Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane scored a goal in the same game, people would often immediately turn to statistician Christopher Kamka on social media to ask what the teams record was when both scored.

The last time Kamka appears to have posted about it was in 2020.

At that point, the Blackhawks were 89-8-5.

Not too shabby.

Advertisement Might 19-year-old Connor Bedard and 20-year-old Frank Nazar , who are expected to be the Blackhawks first- and second-line centers of the future, be the next in line to carry on that torch? If so, Wednesday marked their start.

For the first time in their young NHL careers, Bedard and Nazar both scored in the same game as each contributed a goal to a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche , putting the Blackhawks at 1-0-0 when they do so.

The Blackhawks needed some luck and a massive bounce-back game from Petr Mrazek in net to pull off the upset win, but the story of the night and what should get Blackhawks fans excited for the future was the play of Bedard and Nazar.

Wednesday was the clearest picture so far of what the Blackhawks could look like with Bedard and Nazar playing at a high level.

Their offensive abilities are certainly what separates them from a lot of players.

For Bedard, hes been producing at the most consistent rate of his NHL career.

In Wednesdays win, he extended his career-best points streak to eight games with a goal and assist.

Hes had four goals and seven assists over the streak.

In the win, Bedard had a primary assist in the first period, had a goal negated due to a kicking motion in the second period and then scored an actual goal from the right circle in the third period.

For Nazar, he was just waiting to finally break out for a goal.

He was producing game after game with the Rockford IceHogs, which earned him an invitation to the AHL All-Star Game on Wednesday, but the pucks werent going in for him with the Blackhawks since being called up.

The chances were there, just not the goals.

He corrected that Wednesday as he cleaned up a Colton Dach rebound and netted his first goal of the season during the second period.

It feels really good, said Nazar, who had three shots on goal and five shot attempts.

Just to be able to get that win too is a big part of it.

Obviously, a goal doesnt really mean much if we dont get that win, so its a good team effort.

And, yeah, just a better feeling in the locker room after.

Advertisement Bedard may be the younger of the two, but he seemed like a veteran in the way he praised Nazar.

You see Frankie getting better every game and playing really well and creating a lot, Bedard said.

It feels like every game is his next best game.

Its so fun to watch.

Just the amount of skill and poise he has.

To see him put one in, Im sure hes going to go on a roll now.

Nazar and Bedard didnt just capitalize on their chances Wednesday.

They were driving possession all night.

The Blackhawks had a 19-12 advantage in shot attempts and had a 57.54 expected goal percentage with Bedard on the ice in five-on-five play, according to Natural Sat Trick.

With Nazar out there, the Blackhawks had a 12-8 lead in shot attempts and had a 64.44 expected goals percentage.

What was also noticeable was they werent afraid to play smart and simple hockey when needed.

Bedard was especially rewarded for that on the Blackhawks first goal.

He was carrying the puck through the neutral zone and recognized the Avalanche had him blocked off from a clean entry.

A season ago, he might have forced the play.

But this time, he threw the puck into the right corner, sped up the ice to forecheck, got his stick on an attempted pass by the Avalanches Samuel Girard and opened up a chance for Ilya Mikheyev to score, which he did.

I kind of forced myself to dump that one in a little bit, Bedard said.

I think you got to do that sometimes when youre standing still.

I probably would have turned it over if I tried to do something.

I think thats just (finding) the balance and making plays when theyre there and (trying) to be simple.

That just makes you harder to play against when youre not giving up free chances.

I think that was nice to see one go in off a play like that.

A lot of what Blackhawks interim coach Anders Sorensen has been trying to enforce with Bedard showed up on the ice Wednesday.

Advertisement I really liked his game, Sorensen said.

I thought the first period he was really good.

Weve talked about it in the past, just getting a lot of pucks in motion in this game.

obviously from an offensive player, thats what you want.

So that was really good to see.

Defensively, too, I thought he was really good.

(On Mikheyevs goal) great stick-handling to deflect and create a turnover.

Its something weve talked about, we talked about it yesterday maybe, our identity as a group to understand when its time to forecheck.

He set an example with that and I think hes the one who put it in as well.

So kudos to him.

Sorensen doesnt deserve all the credit for Bedards resurgence over the last month-plus, but you have to think Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson is taking note.

The more Bedard thrives under Sorensen, the better its likely for Sorensens prospects of keeping the job.

After 41 games, Bedard is on pace for 22 goals and 52 assists for the season.

The other area where Bedard and Nazar thrived on Wednesday was at the faceoff dot.

That may have been the biggest surprise.

Both have been near the bottom of the league in faceoffs with percentages in the 30s.

But on Wednesday, Bedard won eight of 13 and Nazar won five of six.

For Bedard, it was just the fourth time in Bedards career he had a faceoff percentage greater than 50 when taking 10 faceoffs or more.

The last time he did so was in the season opener.

Weve been practicing a lot, Bedard said.

Like we say, get one win, its one game.

Thats an area obviously I want to improve in.

Thats been a struggle for me personally.

I think just trying to practice every day, figure little stuff out.

Theres going to be bad nights, theres going to be good nights, but its about consistently stacking up good nights, I think.

Nazar was asked what worked for him.

Advertisement I dont want to give away my secrets, Nazar said with a smile.

Fair enough.

Bedard and Nazar will undoubtedly have their growing pains at the dot and even in their overall games in the future.

One game also isnt going to turn the Blackhawks season around.

But there are reasons to believe both individuals and the team will get better with time.

Wednesday was a good reminder of why the Blackhawks are so optimistic about the future, and Bedard and Nazar are big reasons for that.

(Top photo of Frank Nazar celebrating after scoring a goal: Michael Reaves / Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.