1 month ago
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CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard is back after missing 12 games with a right shoulder injury.
Bedard played Friday night against Washington in his first game since he got hurt on a draw with 0.8 seconds left in a 3-2 loss at St. Louis on Dec. 12. He got a big ovation from the United Center crowd when he was announced with the starting lineup.
“It’s obviously a huge boost,” assistant coach Mike Vellucci said after the team’s morning skate. “He’s a big part of our team and he was playing really well before he got injured. We’re excited to have him back.”
The return of the 20-year-old center arrived at an opportune time for a Blackhawks team that was hit hard by an illness going around the locker room.
Goaltenders Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom, along with forward Ilya Mikheyev, defenseman Louis Crevier and forward Sam Lafferty, were scratched for the matchup with the Capitals. Coach Jeff Blashill missed the morning skate, but he was behind the bench for the game.
Bedard was activated from injured reserve, and defenseman Kevin Korchinski and goaltender Drew Commesso were recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League. Commesso made his second career NHL start, and Dave Nozzolillo was the emergency backup. Korchinski, the No. 7 pick in the 2022 draft, played in his first game with the Blackhawks since April 15.
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