Blackhawks’ Bedard gets costly penalty after arguing non-call vs. Kraken

Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard has had a lot go his way this season, just not on Thursday night.

Bedard was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty late in the third period of Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken after arguing a non-call that led directly to the game-winning goal.

The 20-year-old forward was furious with the referees after he believed there was a missed slashing penalty on his breakaway attempt with just over four minutes left in the game.

Bedard immediately gave the referee an earful and was assessed a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct.

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The Kraken took full advantage of the ensuing man advantage, with Jaden Schwartz potting the game-winning goal with just over two minutes remaining.

Bedard decided to take the high road when asked about the call after the game.

“In the end, we’re professionals, I’m a professional and I got to have a better response there when that doesn’t go my way,” Bedard said to The Athletic’s Scott Powers.

Bedard’s coach, however, wasn’t so kind.

“It’s a penalty… When you don’t have position on a guy, and you put your stick in there and you hit his glove — yes he got the stick after, but the first contact was on his glove — it’s a penalty,” Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said to reporters when asked about the play.

“And then I don’t know what was said, but it better have been really, really, really personal to be that sensitive about it. Because you’re deciding games… It better have been really, really personal if you’re not going to have enough thick skin to just keep playing through it.”

The play wasn’t the only piece of officiating the Blackhawks had an issue with on Thursday.

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Blackhawks forward Andre Burakovsky was forced to leave the game after a high hit from Kraken defenceman Ryan Lindgren in the first period.

Blashill said he thought a penalty should’ve been called on the play because Burakovsky never had possession of the puck, while Bedard wasn’t quite as nice this time around.

“It’s back-to-back games of guys going right to the head,” Bedard said. “It’s bulls—.”

Burakovsky has already been ruled out for Friday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres and his status moving forward is still to be determined.

It was a tough night for the Blackhawks. But led by Bedard, who sits fourth in league scoring with 29 points, they still sit in the first wild-card spot with a 10-6-4 record.