Bedard scores 1st NHL goal in 2nd game for Blackhawks

BOSTON -- Connor Bedard had one thought on his mind as he skated toward the loose puck behind the Boston Bruins' net.

“I was just like, ‘Don’t screw this up,’” the Chicago Blackhawks forward said after scoring his first NHL goal in a 3-1 loss at TD Garden on Wednesday.

“Then kind of once it went in a lot of joy, for sure. Yeah, just a moment so many people in the world dream of. I’m very fortunate to be able to be put in this position and get a chance like that.”

Bedard, who was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, had been putting pressure on himself to score a goal for weeks, even during the preseason, during which he scored once (into an empty net) in four games. When he finally got it on Wednesday, it was a thing of beauty.

Bedard dropped the puck to Ryan Donato just inside the blue line before receiving a return pass in the right circle, where he put a sharp-angle shot on Linus Ullmark. The Bruins goaltender saved that one, but after the puck bounced off Taylor Hall, Bedard collected the rebound, skated around the net, and tucked a wraparound just inside the left post to give Chicago a 1-0 lead at 5:37 of the first period.

“You always remember your first goal, and I think we were saying if it was a wraparound on the bingo card. I don’t think we had that one, but heck of a goal by him,” said Blackhawks forward Nick Foligno, who took Bedard under his wing this summer, texting him frequently and inviting him over to his family’s home for dinner last month.

“He’s starting to show what he can really do. I’m happy for him. It’s a nice one to get out of the way early, too. You don’t have to think about it.”

It was even more special because Bedard did it with his parents, Tom and Melanie, and his sister, Madisen, in attendance. They were also in Pittsburgh for Bedard’s NHL debut last night, when he had an assist in a 4-2 win against the Penguins.

“It’s nice to get the first goal with them here and be able to experience it as well,” he said.

Bedard (18 years, 86 days) became the third-youngest player in Blackhawks history to score his first NHL goal, behind Grant Mulvey (18 years, 32 days) and Eddie Olczyk (18 years, 56 days), who was the color commentator for the game. Only six active NHL players scored their first goal at a younger age.

He scored the first goal of his NHL career in fewer games than fellow No. 1 picks Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, who did so in their third contest on Oct. 13, 2015 and Oct. 8, 2005, respectively.

Bedard is also the fourth No. 1 pick to get at least one point in each of his first two NHL games as an 18-year-old, joining Alexandre Daigle (seven games in 1993-94, Crosby (six games in 2005-06) and Nathan MacKinnon (three games in 2013-14).

“You know what, it happened really quick. I think it's how he did it," Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. "It's just, it's impressive, because I think he knew that he was going to get that before he even tucked it.

“It's exciting to watch. I'm happy for him. I don't know where it really ranks. It's probably No. 1 for him right now because he's got one, so we'll just go with that.”

Aside from his goal, Bedard finished with a game-high six shots on goal and had 21:44 of ice time, which was third on the Blackhawks, behind defensemen Seth Jones (23:35) and Kevin Korchinski (21:48). He was also 6-for-12 on face-offs after he was 2-for-13 on draws against the Penguins on Tuesday.

There was a bit of a scare, though, with 4:58 remaining in regulation. After Bedard attempted to follow up on his own shot attempt that was saved by Ullmark, he got tied up with Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm's stick and slid hard into the boards.

Fortunately, no harm was done.

Bedard also didn’t mind when Bruins captain Brad Marchand attempted to get under his skin by hooking him with his stick and trying to drag him into the Bruins' bench earlier in the game.

“I mean, that’s part of his game, of course, and I have so much respect for a guy like that," Bedard said. "(Been) watching him for a long time. The way he plays, it’s not easy. That’s just part of his game, and he’s going to do that to a lot of guys. It was small stuff.”

Marchand (5-foot-9, 176 pounds) talked prior to the game of his appreciation of players like Bedard (5-10, 185), who, much like him, aren’t the biggest but nevertheless thrive.

“Yeah, you know, now the game’s more based on speed and skill. Back then there was a lot more size," Marchand said. "Now you’re seeing a lot of smaller guys who can move, who are agile. It’s definitely not as big of a deal to be an undersized guy in today’s game. Even a few years before me there were a lot [fewer] guys. But guys under 6-foot, there’s a lot more in the League (now).

“You see with [Bedard’s] ability, the things he can do, you’re seeing that more and more in kids nowadays coming up. They work so much on their speed and skating and skill work, and it shows when they come up. Now, as an older guy (Marchand is 35), we have to work on all that stuff to keep up with those guys in that area. It’s a different game today.”

It's been quite the two days for Bedard, but so far, he’s been exactly what the Blackhawks hoped he would be.

“Yeah, it was exciting (to score),” Bedard said. “I mean, it’s a big relief, too. It’s like, you want to get one really bad, quick and kind of get that out of the way, but it was a really cool moment. Good building to do it in, and family was here and everything. So yeah, it felt good for sure.”