NEWSLETTER
All we’ve wanted since May 9 was to see Connor Bedard on the ice in a Blackhawks’ sweater against another NHL team. On Thursday night at the United Center, we got our first chance for that to become a reality.
After what’s felt like a 6-month training camp before the first preseason game, a group heavy with players who are probably going to be on the NHL roster in Pittsburgh took on a St. Louis lineup that had plenty of NHL regulars of its own. It was wonderful having hockey back on the ice to start the new season.
Your first goal of the 2023 preseason for the Blackhawks: Philipp Kurashev from Bedard and Kevin Korchinski. You have to love hearing those two names from Gene Honda with the apples on the first goal of the preseason.
Robert Thomas tied the game with 11 minutes left in regulation, beating Drew Commesso top shelf.
Star 1: Connor Bedard
At the end of 20 minutes, Bedard had two shots on net and hadn’t lost a faceoff yet (4-4). He also had the only real highlight reel moment of the period. It’s worth nothing the players Bedard danced here are all NHL players, not some 19-year-old prospect who’s headed back to junior in seven hours. He was 6-8 at the dot through 40 minutes and continued to look like he physically belongs on this ice surface. Oh, and the GORGEOUS assist on the OT game-winning goal was worth the price of admission.
Star 2: Wyatt Kaiser
There wasn’t a lot of OMG moments from Kaiser, but he just always seemed to be in the right place. During the first period, a grenade of a pass could have led to a great St. Louis scoring chance but Kaiser scrambled across the zone and blocked the would-be shot. He joined the rush a couple times and played physical behind the Blackhawks’ net. And he covered Seth Jones‘ @$$ a couple times, too. He was credited with four shots on net and, in the final 40 seconds of regulation with the Blackhawks getting an offensive zone draw, he went out to skate on his off-side.
He just looks like a really smart hockey player who has all of the physical tools to be a solid NHL player.
Star 3: Philipp Kurashev
Yes, he scored the Blackhawks’ first goal. But overall I think this was one of the stronger games I’ve seen from Kurashev in a while — which is great because it’s his first game action since a shoulder injury ended his regular season. He was buzzing and got bumped up to skating with Bedard and Taylor Hall while Martin Misiak was in the room after a big hit (see below). He had an active stick and seemed to be around the puck constantly. If we get this version of Kurashev more frequently this year, I like it.
