Connor Bedard scored twice in the third period and assisted on two other goals as the Chicago Blackhawks overcame a three-goal deficit to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 5-3 at United Center on Sunday.
Bedard put Chicago ahead 4-3 at 9:55 of the third period after capitalizing on a turnover by Anaheim’s Alex Killorn. The goal came shortly after Ville Husso replaced Petr Mrazek, who left with an apparent injury. Bedard later added an empty-net goal at 18:05 to secure the win.
Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Greene, and Colton Dach also scored for Chicago, which had lost five straight games prior to this victory. Spencer Knight made 22 saves for the Blackhawks.
For Anaheim, Cutter Gauthier contributed a goal and an assist, Chris Kreider scored his 600th NHL point, and Troy Terry recorded two assists. The Ducks had won four of their previous six games before this loss. Mrazek stopped 13 of 16 shots before exiting; Husso allowed one goal on one shot faced.
Anaheim opened strong with three first-period goals, including two within the first 47 seconds—setting a new franchise record for fastest two goals to start a game. Gauthier scored just 15 seconds into play off a pass from Terry, followed by Olen Zellweger’s rebound goal half a minute later. The previous record was held by Corey Perry and Patrick Eaves from March 28, 2017.
Kreider extended Anaheim’s lead to 3-0 midway through the first period by deflecting Beckett Sennecke’s shot past Knight.
Chicago began its comeback late in the first when Bertuzzi tipped in Frank Nazar’s power-play shot. Greene narrowed the gap further early in the second period after receiving a pass from Bedard during a rush up ice. Dach tied it with another power-play goal later in the period off an assist from Teuvo Teravainen.
Early in the third period, Killorn appeared to score short-handed for Anaheim but his effort was overturned due to an offside call following Chicago’s coach’s challenge.
The result leaves Anaheim with a record of 15-9-1 on the season.
