Chicago @ Vegas preview
T-Mobile Arena
Last Meeting ( Oct 21, 2023 ) Vegas 5, Chicago 3
The Connor Bedard road show makes its first stop on the big stage of Las Vegas with a matinee Friday afternoon, when the Chicago Blackhawks try to snap a three-game losing streak against the unbeaten Vegas Golden Knights.
The NHL schedule-makers certainly didn't do any favors for Bedard, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft who is considered by many a generational talent, and the rebuilding Blackhawks. This will be the fourth straight game against an unbeaten opponent and the second in a week against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
The brutal eight-day stretch began with a 4-0 loss at Colorado on Oct. 19 and was followed by home losses to the Golden Knights (5-3) on Saturday and reigning Presidents' Trophy winner Boston (3-0) on Tuesday. Heading into Thursday's action, those three teams were a combined 19-0.
Chicago was tied heading into the third period in its loss to Vegas and trailed Boston 1-0 after 40 minutes but was outscored a combined 5-1 in the final period by those two teams. Frustrated Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said his squad needed to be tougher in crunch time.
"One year is enough that we're a hard-working team," Richardson said after the loss to the Bruins. "I think we want to push for more this year. I think we start off (games) with good intentions but I find the other teams -- not outwork us work ethic-wise -- but the hardness of the work, physical one-on-one battles. I think we've got to work on that."
Richardson, who said having battle drills at practice was one solution, put his team through an intense practice on Thursday before departing for Las Vegas.
"I think he's right," Bedard said of Richardson's message. "He's a great coach and we all have so much respect for him so whenever he talks, we listen. Whatever he sees is usually what's right. Him saying that, we've got to get motivation from that a little bit."
Bedard, who has two goals and two assists in seven games, was encouraged by the team's practice on Thursday, but how much that carries over into Friday's contest -- the 3 p.m. start is in honor of the state's Nevada Day holiday -- remains to be seen.
The Golden Knights are off to a franchise-record 7-0-0 start, best ever by a reigning Stanley Cup champion. They're the 16th team in NHL history to start a season at least 7-0-0. The record is 10 in a row set by the 1993-94 Toronto Maple Leafs and tied by the Buffalo Sabres in 2006-07.
Four teams have begun a season 8-0-0, most recently the Florida Panthers in 2021-22.
The Golden Knights nearly saw their streak come to an end on Tuesday against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers, who held a 2-1 lead midway through the third period. But Paul Cotter tied it with a highlight-reel goal at the 12:06 mark and Shea Theodore netted the game-winner with just 32.5 seconds left.
"We were kind of chipping away all night," Theodore said. "They're a good team and they blocked a lot of shots. It got frustrating, but I thought we battled through and we were able to get through in the end.
"We know what's at stake every night. It's good to get those two points."
Friday's game is the start of a rare back-to-back for the Golden Knights, who then play at Los Angeles on Saturday night before returning home to host Montreal on Monday.
--Field Level Media