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Ducks can’t keep up with Connor Bedard, Blackhawks in lopsided loss

March 13, 2024

The Ducks’ Brett Leason (20) celebrates with Ben Meyers (39) after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Ducks goalie John Gibson is escorted to the bench by an official after receiving a misconduct penalty for crossing the ice to fight during the third period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

The Chicago Blackhawks’ Nick Foligno, top left, watches as a shot by teammate Seth Jones gets past Ducks goaltender John Gibson, right, for a goal during the second period on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

The Chicago Blackhawks’ Ryan Donato, left, celebrates with Alex Vlasic after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

The Chicago Blackhawks’ Seth Jones, center, celebrates with teammates Connor Bedard, left, and Nick Foligno after scoring a goal during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek, right, celebrates with Jarred Tinordi after their 7-2 rout of the Ducks on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

The Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard, second from left, celebrates with Nick Foligno (17), Philipp Kurashev (23), Jaycob Megna (24) and Jarred Tinordi (25) after scoring a goal during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

The Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard, right, celebrates with Nick Foligno after their 7-2 rout of the Ducks on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

The Ducks’ Ben Meyers (39) celebrates Brett Leason’s shot gets past Chicago Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek, top, for a goal during the first period on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

The Ducks’ Brett Leason (20) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard (98) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night in Chicago. Bedard added four assists as the Blackhawks rolled to a 7-2 win. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek (34) celebrates with Nick Foligno (17) after their 7-2 rout of the Ducks on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek (34) helps teammate MacKenzie Entwistle (58) fight the Ducks’ Radko Gudas (7), while the Blackhawks’ Reese Johnson (52) and the Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov (34) fight in the foreground, during the third period on Tuesday night in Chicago. Chicago won, 7-2. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek makes a save during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Ducks goalie John Gibson, left, makes a save while William Lagesson (37) defends against the Chicago Blackhawks’ Colin Blackwell during the first period on Tuesday night in Chicago. Chicago won, 7-2. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

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By TIM CRONIN The Associated Press

CHICAGO — The Ducks saw more than enough of Connor Bedard on Tuesday night.

The 18-year-old Chicago Blackhawks rookie had a goal and four assists to set his single-game high in points, Philipp Kurashev scored twice and had two assists, and the Blackhawks hammered the Ducks, 7-2, on Tuesday night.

Ryan Donato, Seth Jones, MacKenzie Entwistle and Tyler Johnson also scored for Chicago, which has won two straight games for just the second time this season.

Brett Leason scored both goals for the Ducks, who dropped their third straight.

Bedard, the top overall pick in last June’s draft and a leading candidate for NHL Rookie of the Year, got his fifth point when he assisted on Johnson’s power-play goal midway through the third period. Bedard has eight points in two games and 10 in the last four.

“There were a lot of positives,” Bedard said. “It’s funny. I had eight straight games without a goal, then you have a couple big ones and people forget about that. Enjoy, but we’ve got to turn the page.”

The Blackhawks, suddenly resurgent on the power play, scored four times with the man advantage.

“Give them credit,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “It’s a 4-2 game, and they came out the second or third shift of the third period and stripped us of the puck on a forecheck and made it 5-2 (on Entwistle’s goal). Now you’re chasing the game.”

Aside from being involved in a third-period scrap behind his net, Chicago goalie Petr Mrazek had a relatively quiet night, making 27 saves. Ducks goaltender John Gibson made 20 stops before getting into the scrap and getting pulled in favor of Lukas Dostal, who made four saves.

Leason’s short-handed goal opened the scoring midway through the first period, but the Blackhawks evened the score before their power play expired when Donato poked the puck behind Gibson during a goal-mouth scrum.

It took Chicago just 1:34 to tie the game a second time following Leason’s goal early in the second period. Kurashev took Bedard’s pass on a 2-on-1 and beat Gibson from short right wing. Nick Foligno picked up the first of his career-high four assists by starting the play.

“I think they were just good on the forecheck,” Leason said. “We just couldn’t get a lot of pucks out. They were quick to transition off our turnovers.”

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Jones’ pinch deep into Ducks’ territory resulted in the Blackhawks’ second power-play score and a 3-2 lead, with Bedard picking up an assist.

“That’s nice for a change after being on the other side of it,” Foligno said. “We’ve been a work in progress. It’s nice to see us get rewarded for the hard work we’ve put in.”

Chicago made it 4-2 with 28 seconds left in the middle period when Bedard scored his 20th of the season, set up by Kurashev, who collected his 100th NHL point. Bedard is the first Blackhawk to score 20 goals as an 18-year-old since Ed Olczyk did it in 70 games as a rookie in the 1984-85 season.

Forward Andreas Athanasiou returned to the Blackhawks’ lineup after missing 60 games with an injured groin. He set up Entwistle’s goal.

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Ducks can’t keep up with Connor Bedard, Blackhawks in lopsided loss

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