Connor Bedard nets first NHL goal as Blackhawks battle Bruins

Rookie phenom Connor Bedard scored the first of what should be a heap of NHL goals during the opening period of the Chicago Blackhawks’ visit to TD Garden on Wednesday night.

Bedard’s slick hands and net-front instincts mean that his tallies will soon become more commonplace than newsworthy, and both attributes were on display for his tally past Boston Bruins’ goaltender and reigning Vezina Trophy-winner Linus Ullmark.

After a nifty zone entry and backhand feed to teammate Ryan Donato, Bedard took a return pass, fired from a sharp angle, and deposited the puck with a wraparound move in the ensuing scramble.

Bedard got off the mark in his fourth professional period after debuting on the scoresheet with a helper during Chicago’s 4-2 triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. Hawks fans will hope his good fortune continues throughout the team’s five-game road stand and into their home opener on Oct. 21.

The player could not sign his entry-level contract until his 18th birthday three months ago, but already carries the franchise’s hopes after a two-year hype train rivaled only by those of Penguins’ captain Sidney Crost and three-time (and reigning) MVP Connor McDavid. 

Though pressure on the rookie is at tectonic levels after the recent departures of franchise legends Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, Bedard has acquitted himself well so far in his young career and looked no less dynamic throughout the preseason than he did with the WHL Regina Pats.

Veterans like Nick Foligno and Corey Perry should insulate the rookie from too many “welcome to the league” moments in a physical Central Division as he battles for Calder Trophy honors with another likely frontrunner, Arizona’s Logan Cooley.

The Coyotes’ public relations team recently took a dig at Bedard over the perceived rivalry; if early returns are anything to judge by, it will take more than Twitter jabs to rattle the BC native.

The Bruins and Blackhawks are tied 1-1 after one; the latter will head to Montreal for another Original Six clash with the Canadiens on Saturday.