Bedard gets locker room love after historic performance vs. Lightning

Watch: Bedard gets locker room love after historic performance vs. Lightning originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The energy was electric after the Chicago Blackhawks’ stunning 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.

A new pre-game ritual for the Blackhawks this season is the puck chain. After a win, the team presents a giant hockey puck attached to a hefty gold chain to the player who made the biggest impact in the game.

Taylor Hall, who exited Thursday’s game in the third period with an apparent leg injury, honored Connor Bedard in the locker room after the rookie’s explosive performance, which led to four points and two goals.

“Great game, guys, the moms will be thrilled,” Bedard said, acknowledging that most of the players’ mothers were in attendance for the team’s biennial “mom’s trip.”

This marked the young forward’s first multi-point game, setting the stage for an historic evening for No. 98.

In the first period alone, Bedard achieved three points, scoring two goals and providing an assist before the first 20 minutes were up.

He later added a fourth point with an assist on Corey Perry’s second period power play goal, extending the Blackhawks’ lead to 5-2.

According to Stathead, Bedard is now the youngest player in the NHL to register four points in a game since Bep Guidolin did so for the Boston Bruins in a Feb. 1944 game against the New York Rangers.

Bedard is also the youngest player to ever score two goals and register two assists in a game in NHL history.

Additionally, Bedard became the first Blackhawks rookie to register four points in a game since Alex DeBrincat achieved the feat in 2018.

Although Bedard had the chance to become the youngest player in NHL history to score a hat trick, he was denied on several good opportunities later in the game.

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