Fans were pleased to see him back in action, even if he did have to wear a cage during the game. He earned another point during his 40th NHL game played against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After the game, he was available for interviews with the hockey media.
Connor Bedard on the moment his jaw broke on Jan. 5:
"It was just weird. My face was numb and my bite was off. They told me it was broken, I guess, and I just thought of Chara going back in the bubble, so I didn't think too much of it. But obviously it's not Game 7 of the Cup� Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 16, 2024
Despite being a rookie superstar, Bedard suffered a setback this season due to a physical injury sustained from a hit by Brendan Smith.
This was the first major injury that has impeded his development.
We figured out the flaw in Connor Bedard's game. #trepidation pic.twitter.com/f1LSImXOjn� Eric Gegenheimer (@ericgeg) February 16, 2024
However, his strong will to persevere was evident as he returned to the lineup and even wanted to play after the hit, despite knowing that his jaw was broken.
During the post-game interview, Bedard was asked if he was afraid of getting hit, to which he jokingly responded that he didn't know what "getting hit" meant. His never-say-die attitude towards the game of hockey was evident, and he continued to contribute right away with an assist, keeping him ahead of the Calder Trophy race.
As Seen On: houseofhockey.net
POLL | ||
FEVRIER 16 | 258 ANSWERS Connor Bedard has spoken out about his injury for the first time. Do you think Connor Bedard will win the Calder Trophy, despite the setback? | ||
Yes | 182 | 70.5 % |
No | 76 | 29.5 % |
List of polls |