The Chicago Blackhawks couldn’t elude their recent second-period struggles, but they still managed to finally defeat a team on the back end of a back-to-back at the United Center on Tuesday. That was mostly thanks to an incredible performance by Connor Bedard.
Bedard found the back of the net three times in the Blackhawks’ 7-3 win over the Ottawa Senators, as he picked up his first career NHL hat trick and added a primary assist for a four-point game. Bedard also scored his 50th career NHL goal, becoming just the seventh player in Blackhawks franchise history to reach that number before turning 21 years old.
“He is elite,” captain Nick Foligno said about Bedard after the game. “He’s understanding and becoming that [type of] player… He’s a guy who, not likes, but loves to score goals. You could see on his face how pumped up he was. If we get that Connor Bedard every night, it’s going to be fun.”
Bedard’s ELITE wrist shot was on display on each of his three goals on Tuesday, as he beat Senators’ goaltender Linus Ullmark with a trio of highlight-reel releases.
While all three goals he scored were marvelous, his second goal of the evening, in particular, was one of his brightest moments with the Blackhawks. Bedard coasted from end to end, splitting the Senators’ defense and then wiring a wrist shot past Ullmark’s blocker for his fifth tally of the season.
Artyom Levshunov➡️Matt Grzelcyk➡️Connor Bedard🚨
Bedard goes end-to-end & fires home a wrister for his 2nd goal of the game & 5th of the season to put the #Blackhawks ahead 4-0! 50th goal of Bedard’s NHL career👏what a play!!pic.twitter.com/zUEb8UoUMM
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) October 29, 2025
“Connor’s had a great start to the year. He’s done so many things the right way,” head coach Jeff Blashill said. “He’s created a lot of offense that hasn’t always ended up in goals… But there have certainly been those opportunities for nights like this. For him to get rewarded, I think it’s great.”
Bedard had been trending towards a breakout game like he had against Ottawa, as he racked up 19 shots on goal and 28 shot attempts in his previous four outings leading into Tuesday’s contest. While the finished product had eluded him, with only one goal since the home opener back on Oct. 11, Bedard mentioned that he didn’t get discouraged and has kept the same mentality for each game.
“Against Anaheim, I don’t know how many shots I had, probably 10 or something, and none [went] in,” Bedard said. “Then today, it’s almost every one [goes in]. That’s how hockey is. Sometimes it’s going in, sometimes it’s not. For me, I try to stick with it, keep shooting, and not get too high or too low… You’re going to have ups and downs.”
Bedard was the best player on the ice for the home squad, but here are five other Blackhawks who made key contributions to the victory on Tuesday.
Andre Burakovsky
Burakovsky skated with Bedard and Ryan Greene on the top line to begin the game, although Blashill rolled out various combinations and tinkered with different trios. The 30-year-old forward was also bumped up to the top power-play unit for the first time this season, as he swapped spots with Teuvo Teravainen.
That decision paid off immediately for Blashill in the first period against the Sens, as Burakovsky made a perfect pass to find Bedard at the right circle for his first goal of the game.
Frank Nazar➡️Andre Burakovsky➡️Connor Bedard🚨
Burakovsky sets up Bedard for his 4th goal of the season to extend the #Blackhawks lead to 3-0 on the power play! Moving Burakovsky up to the top unit & putting Bedard at the right dot pays off🫡pic.twitter.com/8gvluzvsW7
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) October 29, 2025
Speaking of the right circle, that’s where Bedard was slotted on the man advantage for the first time this season, too. The new-look top unit converted on their lone opportunity of the evening, and that will hopefully provide the group with some momentum moving forward.
Burakovsky also tallied the secondary assist on Ryan Donato’s insurance goal in the third period, giving him two points in 14:23 of ice time. The Swede showcased his swift skating ability and crisp edge work in the offensive zone, which gave him some time before dishing the puck down low to Bedard.
Andre Burakovsky➡️Connor Bedard➡️Ryan Donato🚨
Donato adds to the #Blackhawks lead with his 6th goal of the season to make it 6-3! Bedard gets his 4th point of the game with the assist. 2nd apple of the night for Burakovsky.pic.twitter.com/bkn9Usyn3K
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) October 29, 2025
Louis Crevier
BIG LOU! Poor Crevier had his terrific night overshadowed by Bedard’s hat trick, which he jokingly said left him “fuming” on the bench. He’s quite the character.
The 2020 seventh-round pick has quietly been impressive in his first full NHL season, but his most impactful game so far certainly came on Tuesday.
Crevier helped the Blackhawks open up the scoring for the eighth time in ten games, as he fired a slap shot on net from the right point, and Colton Dach jumped on the rebound for his first goal of the season. Good things happen when you put the puck on net.
Then, just over five minutes later, Crevier picked up his second point of the period, as he beat Ullmark from a seemingly harmless angle to double the Blackhawks’ lead. That was also Crevier’s second goal of the year, which now leads all Blackhawks defensemen.
Crevier not only picked up his first multi-point performance of his career, but he also registered a season-high 15:53 of ice time. The 24-year-old blue liner has been splendid as the seventh defenseman this year, and it was nice to see him get rewarded on Tuesday.
Nick Foligno
With the secondary assist on Dach’s opening goal, captain Nick Foligno officially reached 600 NHL points for his career. That had to feel good coming against the team that originally drafted him in the first round way back in 2006.
Foligno also added another assist on Frank Nazar’s empty-netter to seal the win, which doubled his season points total. He had a prime-time chance to earn a third point in Tuesday’s game, as he and Nazar had a 2-on-0 shorthanded rush that Ullmark thwarted.
The Captain impacted the game in several different ways, including having four hits and two blocked shots in 13:42 of ice time. Foligno’s physicality and selflessness are prime examples of the sacrifices that must be made in this league to consistently win games, especially as a depth player down in the lineup. He continues to be a tremendous leader for this young group, both on and off the ice.
Tyler Bertuzzi
Despite being listed as “doubtful” by Blashill following Monday’s practice, Bertuzzi was healthy enough to play against the Senators after missing the previous game with an upper-body injury. His return gave the Blackhawks a big-time spark of energy in their forward group, and he made his presence felt on multiple occasions.
Bertuzzi was one of only three forwards who didn’t record a point on Tuesday, but funny enough, his line with Nazar and Teravainen was the team’s most effective trio at even strength.
The Blackhawks led 9-1 in shot attempts, 3-0 in shots on goal, 3-0 in scoring chances, and 1-0 in high-danger chances with the Bertuzzi-Nazar-Teravainen line on the ice at even strength, per Natural Stat Trick.
Bertuzzi had a pair of quality scoring chances of his own in the first period, but he couldn’t get the puck on net either time. But he continues to willingly go to the front of the net and cause havoc, and he provided two great screens in front of Ullmark on Crevier and Bedard’s (first) goals.
Then, in the latter stages of the game, when frustration started to mount for the visitors, Bertuzzi did what he does best. Muck it up and set the tone for the rest of the team. After Nick Cousins took a run at “Bert” in the defensive zone, he ended up with the last laugh during a post-whistle skirmish. He’s not a guy to mess with.
Tyler’s a foxhole guy, man. I’ll take him all day, every day, on any team I ever coach,” Blashill said. “He’s a foxhole guy, and you want him in your foxhole. He’ll stick up for himself, stick up for his teammates. He embodies what we want to be as a group.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself, coach.
Colton Dach
While Dach’s line with Jason Dickinson and Sam Lafferty spent most of their time together at even strength defending, I still thought Dach had a second strong showing in a row.
After having multiple chances to net his first goal of the season, it finally came in the first period on Tuesday, as he did precisely what a power forward should — Crash the net hard and clean up the loose change.
Dach also led the Blackhawks with 6 hits on the night, and he remains the leader in that category among all NHL rookies this season. His consistent physicality has been needed in a forward group that doesn’t provide much of that.
It’s also worth pointing out that Dach finished third on the team in individual expected goals (0.13) and had two individual scoring chances, which trailed only Crevier. With Dach on the ice at five-on-five, the Blackhawks had a 5-3 edge in scoring chances and led 2-1 in goals for.
“Dach has done a good job the last two games,” Blashill said. “I thought he did a lot of things that power forwards do. Tonight, he’s at the net. He’s been physical… All those things that are important [and] don’t always show up on the scoresheet.”
For more Blackhawks news, visit Chicago Hockey Now and like our Facebook Page.
Follow us on X: