SAN JOSE, Calif. — NHL gamers and referees have a particular type of communication that options loads of profanity and indignant quips exchanged forwards and backwards. It’s accepted and, to some extent, embraced by each events.
So Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks have been baffled when referee Chris Rooney gave Bedard a 10-minute “abuse of officers” misconduct penalty at a crucial second within the Hawks’ 4-2 loss Thursday in opposition to the Sharks.
“I’ve heard worse,” interim coach Anders Sorensen stated.
Mentioned Bedard: “I suppose he simply didn’t like what I stated. That’s the way it goes.”
Bedard was upset about no penalty being referred to as when he was clearly tripped by Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro whereas making an attempt to chop towards the web in a 3-2 recreation. He made a remark to Rooney upon returning to the bench with 10:50 left within the third interval.
“I didn’t suppose [what I said] was too loopy,” stated Bedard, who agreed he was shocked by the decision. “However clearly, he’s the ref, so he will get to make that decision. So that you’ve bought to reside with it.”
We have seen all of the replays, and I nonetheless cannot discover out why Connor Bedard was given a 10-minute misconduct. That is the tip of his final shift pic.twitter.com/W2E7yABXa5
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) March 14, 2025
The Hawks have been left looking for an equalizer with out their main scorer obtainable, and Sharks goalie Alexandar Georgiev stopped Ryan Donato just a few occasions earlier than a Tyler Toffoli empty-net purpose with 33 seconds left sealed the outcome. Bedard wasn’t launched from the field till the stoppage following that purpose.
The primary 50 minutes of the sport — and particularly the primary 20 — weren’t nice for the Hawks, both. Frank Nazar, who scored his sixth purpose of the season, was actually the one participant making issues occur.
Rookie defenseman Artyom Levshunov hit the put up within the second interval however regarded extra passive general than in his debut Monday. Sorensen stated Levshunov will encounter a “studying curve” to seek out consistency within the NHL.
The hole between the Hawks and Sharks, the underside two groups within the league, narrowed to 4 factors with the Sharks’ victory.
Dickinson again in combine
Hawks ahead Jason Dickinson, strolling down the tunnel after struggling an harm Feb. 5 in opposition to the Oilers, already had a robust suspicion it was a high-ankle sprain.
“[Our doctor] confirmed it once I bought again there, and he gave me the anticipated timeline,” Dickinson stated Wednesday. “Positive sufficient, it was just about bang-on what he had warned me. I didn’t suppose it could be, however I suppose he is aware of one thing.”
Certainly, the Hawks’ finest defensive ahead missed virtually precisely a month — 11 video games of the NHL regular-season schedule — earlier than returning Monday in opposition to the Avalanche.
“All issues thought-about, it was the most effective of the chances,” he added. “I may simply be six months for a knee or one thing. Excessive ankle will not be straightforward as a result of they linger for some time, so that you’ve bought to handle it. However not less than it’s not structural injury that wants lots of time [to recover].”
Interim coach Anders Sorensen tried slotting Dickinson, historically a middle, because the first-line proper wing subsequent to Bedard, however he deserted that concept mid-game Thursday when it grew to become clear it wasn’t clicking.
