Bedard scores 2 more goals in Blackhawks loss

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Nick Foligno has played in nearly 1,100 NHL games during his 17-season career, so he's seen his fair share of special talents.

And the 36-year-old thinks that Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard is just getting started.

“You can see the game is starting to slow down for him, which is scary,” Foligno said of his linemate.

“I've played with a couple like that. You call them gamebreakers. They either win you the game or they keep you in a game."

That was the case on Sunday, when Bedard scored two goals for the Blackhawks in a 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena.

Bedard's first goal came on an individual effort to tie it 2-2 at 19:04 of the first period. He stripped the puck from Panthers forward Kevin Stenlund deep in the offensive zone and quickly lifted the puck over the shoulder of Sergei Bobrovsky from along the goal line.

Then, with Chicago trailing 3-2 at 8:18 of the second period, Bedard picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, skated down the left wing on a rush and scored glove side to tie the game again.

“He’s got the good, quick release," Bobrovsky said. “He beat me twice. I tip my hat to him.”

The 18-year-old, who was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, now has 13 points (nine goals, four assists) in 13 games this season, including six points (four goals, two assists) in his past two games.

“That’s kind of my goal in games, to try to improve every game," Bedard said. “Not saying get more points than I did the last game, but just feel more comfortable and feel I can make more plays. But I think that just comes with time. Trying to get more comfortable, but there’s been games maybe I could have had a couple points and it didn’t go. But obviously it’s nice to get on the score sheet.

“Hockey is just a natural thing for all of us. Not natural, but we work so hard. For me, that’s kind of where my confidence comes from, is how much time I’ve put into this and how much I’ve dedicated my life to it. So, I think for me it’s just trying to go out there and really be confident in myself and try to make plays, but smart plays.”

Bedard's efforts haven't necessarily led to wins thus far for the Blackhawks (5-8-0), who are in seventh in the Central Division, but coach Luke Richardson is hoping that will come.

“He just doesn't seem satisfied just getting his one goal every night,” Richardson said. “He is looking for more. That hopefully becomes contagious in our team. We’ve got to push for a little bit more at times. … He’s just got some special qualities. He's starting to find himself in this league.”

Foligno agreed.

"The way he plays and his individual efforts and abilities, you appreciate it because you don't want it to bail you out every night, but those are the guys who can sometimes get you a win that you maybe don't deserve," Foligno said. "I was hoping he was going to get that third one, but it's nice to see him rolling and feeling good about it.”