Injury update on Bedard following collision.
The Chicago Blackhawks fans had reason to be concerned after Connor Bedard was dropped by Neal Pionk on the ice.
Pionk used an old-school hip-check on the sophomore NHL forward, who was acting like he owned the ice.
That was until he didn't, and Pionk established dominance on the ice which led to injury concerns after the brutal hit.
Fortunately, for Bedard and the Blackhawks, there's been no update on the forward's status.
However, tonight Bedard hasn't been a huge factor on the ice.
He has provided some offense, with some great passing play, and showed his amazing stick-handling during the game.
But much like the game against the Utah Hockey Club will he heat up in the 3rd period?
We're not 13:08 in the 3rd period, and Connor Bedard has only one shot on goal all night.
While Patrick Maroon and Ryan Donato have been the only contributors tonight, in establishing a lead over the Winnipeg Jets.
With the Blackhawks losing Artyom Levshunov to injury, and Wyatt Kaiser returning to the lineup tonight, they cannot afford to lose someone like Connor Bedard tonight, at the beginning of the season.
He's too pivotal of a player, and even when he isn't scoring he's driving offense.
Bedard is not injured and has returned to the ice, healthy. Blackhawks fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
What's inconceivable about this entire play is how Pat Maroon failed to deliver any kind of retaliation on Neal Pionk, for the devastating hip check. Such an "enforcer" of "the code". The Blackhawks need to get Matt Rempe asap.
Last season Connor Bedard won the Calder Trophy as a rookie in the NHL, scoring 61 points(22 G, 39 A) and the Blackhawks need a win to take another leap into a competitive nature.
The Jets hung 6 goals on the runners up to the Stanley Cup finals last season, the Edmonton Oilers.
| POLL | ||
Do you think Neal Pionk should have been penalized for the old school hip-check? | ||
| Yes | 170 | 56.1 % |
| No | 133 | 43.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
