After being named the NHL’s third star of the month for November, Connor Bedard opened December with a few more must-see highlights against the Vegas Golden Knights. Bedard put the Chicago Blackhawks ahead 3-2 with a jaw-dropping goal in the third period, but the team couldn’t hold onto its one-goal lead in the final moments of regulation. Vegas ended up with the extra point on the night, winning 4-3 in a shootout. More in the links for the highlights and recap from another frustrating one-goal loss in Sin City.
Also in Blackhawks news, goaltender Laurent Brossoit was activated and assigned to Rockford for a conditioning stint, an OHL prospect scored twice, and Mason West has officially returned to the ice.
Around the league, Nathan MacKinnon added another two goals in Colorado’s win, Steven Stamkos notched his 1,200th NHL point, and Jesper Wallstedt made NHL history for Minnesota.
All that & more in the Daily!
Chicago Blackhawks Recap, News & Tidbits
Chicago Hockey Now: The awards and achievements are beginning to pile up for 20-year-old superstar Connor Bedard. With 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 14 games, Bedard was named the NHL’s third star of the month for November on Tuesday.
More CHN: The Blackhawks opened a four-game road trip with a strong effort against the Vegas Golden Knights. Chicago was a little unlucky not to come out of Sin City with the win, as they outchanced Vegas 6-2 in overtime and held them to only 14 high-danger chances in 65 minutes. Carter Hart came up clutch time and time again late in the contest to lift the Golden Knights to a 4-3 shootout win.
Before the Blackhawks hit the ice in Vegas for the morning skate, the team announced that goaltender Laurent Brossoit has been activated off the injured non-roster list. Brossoit has been assigned to Rockford in the AHL for a conditioning stint, where he is likely showcasing his game to get traded down the road. There isn’t room for Brossoit in Chicago, and plenty of teams are searching for help in between the pipes.
In the OHL, 2024 third-round pick (No. 92 overall) Jack Pridham was responsible for both of the Kitchener Rangers’ goals in a 3-2 loss to the Erie Otters. Pridham scored his 11th goal of the season to send the teddy bears flying in Kitchener and added his 12th tally later in the contest. The 20-year-old forward now has 27 points through 24 games.
Just 11 days after winning the Minnesota High School 6A State Football Championship, prospect Mason West has already joined the Fargo Force in the USHL to continue his hockey career. West, a first-round pick (No. 29 overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft, was spotted on the ice at practice with the Force on Tuesday. The 18-year-old played in 10 games with Fargo during the 2024-25 season, tallying nine points (1G, 8A).
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
The Athletic: An excellent story from Joe Smith. When Matthew Schaefer’s mother, Jennifer, passed away from a battle with breast cancer in February of 2024, many reached out to offer him condolences. Two players who gave advice and support were Nick and Marcus Foligno, who lost their mother, Janis, to breast cancer in 2009. Schaefer and the Foligno brothers have remained close ever since.
Sportsnet: He did it AGAIN?! Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt blanked the Edmonton Oilers by stopping all 33 shots faced in a 1-0 victory. According to the NHL record book, Wallstedt has become the first netminder in more than 61 years to record five shutouts in his first 10 career wins.
NHL.com: Steven Stamkos recorded his 589th career NHL goal in the Nashville Predators’ 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. More importantly, that goal gave Stamkos 1,200 NHL points, becoming the 53rd player in league history to accomplish the feat. Nashville is now 3-0-1 in the past four games.
Colorado Hockey Now: Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche are a runaway freight train at the moment. MacKinnon scored two more goals, giving him 22 in 26 games, to help the Avs take down the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 at Ball Arena. On the downside, stud goaltender Scott Wedgewood was forced to exit the game early with an upper-body injury.
Montreal Hockey Now: Despite currently sitting second in NHL rookie scoring, Ivan Demidov has received the second-lowest average ice time at even strength among all Montreal Canadiens forwards this season. What gives?
Florida Hockey Now: The Florida Panthers are a shell, literally and figuratively, of their former selves right now. Following a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, the Panthers are dead last in the Eastern Conference standings. As a reminder, the Blackhawks hold the rights to Florida’s unprotected 2026 first-round draft choice.
Vegas Hockey Now: From the other side of the battle on Tuesday, here are seven observations from the Vegas Golden Knights‘ 4-3 shootout win over the Blackhawks. Carter Hart helped Vegas overcome some recent overtime woes in his team debut.
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