Connor Bedard sets Blackhawks record with 66 goals before 21 despite 6-2 Penguins loss. Milestone goal highlights superstar’s brilliance amid defensive disaster.

In a night defined by defensive disaster, Chicago Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard quietly etched his name into franchise lore.

Trailing 6-1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins late in Monday’s 6-2 loss at the United Center, Bedard’s third-period beauty cut the deficit to 6-2. The bar-down snipe, his 21st goal of the season, became Chicago’s most by any player before turning 21.

It was quite the shot, too.

Bedard now owns the Blackhawks franchise record with 66 goals before his 21st birthday, passing Eddie Olczyk’s mark of 65. The milestone goal also gave him 50 points for the season.

Story continues below.

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But the celebration was muted. There were no hugs on the ice, celebrations, or high fives, just a skate back to the bench as the CHSN broadcast flashed a graphic showing his career total one above Olczyk.

Ugly Context Overshadows Milestone

Bedard’s history-making tally provided pretty much the lone highlight in a brutal beatdown. Pittsburgh erupted for five second-period goals, exposing Artyom Levshunov’s nightmare (-5, responsible for four tallies) and Chicago’s power-play futility, which has seemingly gone on for what feels like forever.

A moment that in almost any other game this season would likely be celebrated was completely overshadowed by the Blackhawks complete meltdown in the second period. In fact, a surprising number of fans who tune in to the team each game probably missed the historic goal, and not many will blame them for having turned the game off already at that point.

Looking Ahead

Chicago (15-27-5) concludes its Moms’ Trip Friday against Columbus (7:30 p.m. CT). A bounce-back win would dull the pain from Penguins meltdown embarrassment, and let Bedard’s new record breathe a bit.

Nothing better than some Friday night hockey at the UC.