Colorado
Chicago Blackhawks gear up for Connor Bedard’s home debut against Colorado Avalanche – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Chicago Blackhawks fans have eagerly awaited the home debut of their newest rising star, Connor Bedard, who was the top pick in the NHL draft in June. Bedard, who plays as a center, is set to play his fifth NHL game, all of which have been on the road. Blackhawks fans will finally get to see Bedard in regular-season action when Chicago faces the Colorado Avalanche in Denver after his fourth road game.
Bedard has generated significant hype and comparisons to NHL superstar Connor McDavid, the No. 1 overall pick in 2015, and has met the high expectations so far. He has notched one goal and two assists, and the Blackhawks have split their first four games of the season.
Despite being just 18 years old, Bedard has handled the pressure of playing in the NHL admirably. His teammate Taylor Hall, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, mentioned that Bedard has been “handling it really well” and jokingly suggested that they should let him play more and do fewer in-game interviews.
The Chicago Blackhawks are in a rebuilding phase after their successful run from 2010-2015 when they secured three Stanley Cup titles with the likes of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Toews, the team captain since 2008, took a break from hockey to focus on his health, and Kane was traded to the New York Rangers last season. Chicago hopes that Bedard can serve as the foundation for another era of dominance, but this will take time, much like the Colorado Avalanche’s rebuilding process.
The Colorado Avalanche, a strong contender to win another title, have a promising core of young stars and additional supporting players. They recently secured a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken, with Logan O’Connor scoring a pivotal short-handed goal. O’Connor has been a valuable asset for the Avalanche, contributing both as an enforcer and a key player on the penalty kill, which has yet to concede a goal in 13 chances this season.
The Avalanche’s recent success on the road may make them prefer playing away from home. They won all three games on their season-opening road trip and have an impressive 14-game regular-season road winning streak, tying an NHL record set by Buffalo in 2006. Their strong start has been bolstered by the exceptional goaltending of Alexandar Georgiev, who boasts a 1.30 goals-against average after stopping 91 of the 95 shots he has faced.
(With Reuters inputs)
Bedard has generated significant hype and comparisons to NHL superstar Connor McDavid, the No. 1 overall pick in 2015, and has met the high expectations so far. He has notched one goal and two assists, and the Blackhawks have split their first four games of the season.
Despite being just 18 years old, Bedard has handled the pressure of playing in the NHL admirably. His teammate Taylor Hall, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, mentioned that Bedard has been “handling it really well” and jokingly suggested that they should let him play more and do fewer in-game interviews.
The Chicago Blackhawks are in a rebuilding phase after their successful run from 2010-2015 when they secured three Stanley Cup titles with the likes of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Toews, the team captain since 2008, took a break from hockey to focus on his health, and Kane was traded to the New York Rangers last season. Chicago hopes that Bedard can serve as the foundation for another era of dominance, but this will take time, much like the Colorado Avalanche’s rebuilding process.
The Colorado Avalanche, a strong contender to win another title, have a promising core of young stars and additional supporting players. They recently secured a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken, with Logan O’Connor scoring a pivotal short-handed goal. O’Connor has been a valuable asset for the Avalanche, contributing both as an enforcer and a key player on the penalty kill, which has yet to concede a goal in 13 chances this season.
The Avalanche’s recent success on the road may make them prefer playing away from home. They won all three games on their season-opening road trip and have an impressive 14-game regular-season road winning streak, tying an NHL record set by Buffalo in 2006. Their strong start has been bolstered by the exceptional goaltending of Alexandar Georgiev, who boasts a 1.30 goals-against average after stopping 91 of the 95 shots he has faced.
(With Reuters inputs)