Blackhawks' Connor Bedard leaves game with injury after big hit originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Chicago Blackhawks rookie phenom Connor Bedard left the first period of Friday's game against the New Jersey Devils with an undisclosed injury. The team announced early in the second period that he would miss the remainder of the competition.
The play occurred midway through the first period when Devils defenseman Brendan Smith delivered a big hit to Bedard, who kept his mouth shut before heading to the locker room. He didn't return.
Philipp Kurashev immediately defended his teammate, as did Nick Foligno, who suffered two serious penalties. The Blackhawks not only converted the penalty, but also scored on the power play to make it 1-0.
Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson didn't give a big update on Bedard after the game and said they would have more information on Saturday.
“I think he obviously hit his head,” Richardson said. “But I just came in and I haven’t heard anything other than everyone coming home. We’ll get it checked at home.”
Overall, the Blackhawks didn't seem to have a problem with Smith's hit on Bedard. Boris Katchouk was the exception.
“I mean, everyone saw it,” Katchouk said. “It’s dirty, so. I think it’s dirty.”
The loss of Bedard is a blow to the Blackhawks, who have seven players on injured reserve. Three of those players – Taylor Raddysh (groin), Tyler Johnson (foot) and Anthony Beauvillier (wrist) – were placed on IR during this five-game road trip.
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