The Connor Bedard return Penguins Blackhawks storyline takes center stage Tuesday when Pittsburgh visits Chicago at United Center. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET, with Bedard likely to make his season debut for the Blackhawks after shoulder surgery in July, according to ESPN. The Penguins enter at 3-2-1 off a shootout win, while Chicago sits at 1-5 and has lost five of its first six games.
Penguins Vs Blackhawks Game Information
- Date: Tuesday, Oct. 13
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, CHSN
Is Connor Bedard Playing Tuesday?
Bedard is likely to play Tuesday against Pittsburgh, returning just over three months after surgery on his left shoulder, which he injured during offseason training in Vancouver, according to ESPN. He cleared for full contact at practice and is expected to center the top line with Patrick Kane and Roman Kanstserov, also taking a spot on Chicago’s top power-play unit.
Bedard led Chicago with 75 points in 69 games last season, 17 more than his closest teammate. He was named Blackhawks captain, making him the second-youngest captain in Original Six franchise history, and signed a five-year, $75 million extension with the club. For more background, see the Connor Bedard return timeline.
What Injuries Are Impacting Both Rosters?
Chicago is also without Andrew Mangiapane (lower body) and Ryan Ellis, who is out for the season with a back injury. Center Frank Nazar remains out while serving a suspension; Total Apex Sports covered the Frank Nazar suspension in detail.
Pittsburgh is missing defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk (day to day, lower body), forward Andrei Kuzmenko (personal), forward Justin Brazeau (lower body) and defenseman Ryan Graves (lower body). Forward Bryan Rust is day to day with an upper-body injury, a situation Total Apex Sports has tracked in its Bryan Rust injury update.
How Have Both Teams Looked Lately?
Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday with a 2-1 shootout win over Dallas, getting shootout goals from Ben Kindel, Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell after Connor Dewar scored in regulation. Goaltender Arturs Silovs stopped 24 of 25 shots in regulation and overtime in that game and is the probable starter Tuesday. Pittsburgh is 1-1-1 on the road this season, and Tuesday opens the club’s first four-game road trip of the year.
Coach Dan Muse said after the Dallas win, “This was way better. We were on the same page. We weren’t as spread out.
I thought we were coming back and put ourselves in good spots. For me, it’s an exciting step for us to take.” Rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov has also seen heavy work this season, making 77 saves on 82 shots across one-goal losses on Oct. 5 and Oct. 9.
Chicago has been idle since a 5-2 loss to defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina on Oct. 10, the opener of a seven-game homestand. The Blackhawks have been outscored by 14 goals through six games, and their top power-play unit has converted just once on 14 chances this season. Spencer Knight is the probable starting goalie.
Forward Roman Kantserov scored his first career goal on a breakaway in the Carolina loss. Chicago is 1-1-0 at home. Coach Jeff Blashill addressed the team’s early struggles, saying, “Do I think frustration builds when you haven’t won and when you’re not having enough success?
Of course, it does. But I’m going to tell you right now, I have absolute 100% belief in this group. One hundred percent.
And this group is going to win.”
Key Matchup
Bedard’s likely return against a Pittsburgh team allowing just 2.67 goals per game sets up the clearest storyline of the night. The Penguins have been stingy defensively, highlighted by a stretch against Dallas in which they didn’t allow a shot for nearly seven minutes to open the game. Chicago’s offense has managed only 12 goals through six games and has converted just one of 14 power-play chances, so how quickly Bedard integrates with Kane and Kanstserov on the top line and power play could determine whether the Blackhawks can generate the sustained pressure they’ve lacked. Pittsburgh’s blue line also got a fresh look recently, with defenseman Spencer Stastney working alongside Kris Letang on the third pairing and newly acquired defenseman Ryan Johnson arriving after a deal that sent two minor leaguers to Buffalo.
What To Watch
Pittsburgh is looking to build on its shootout win over Dallas, detailed in the Penguins’ 2-1 shootout victory recap, as it begins its longest road trip of the season. Chicago, meanwhile, is trying to avoid a sixth loss in seven games while welcoming back its franchise centerpiece. Both goaltending situations bear watching given Silovs’ strong outing against Dallas and Murashov’s heavy workload in recent one-goal losses, alongside Knight’s probable start for a Blackhawks team still searching for its first multi-win week. The next scheduled update will come after Tuesday’s result.
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