Connor Bedard leads Blackhawks into key division battle against the Blues

The Chicago Blackhawks enter Friday’s matchup against the St. Louis Blues with renewed confidence, and much of that momentum comes from the play of Connor Bedard, who continues to drive Chicago’s offense through the month of December.

After a dominant 3-0 win over the New York Rangers, the Blackhawks are hoping to carry that same energy into St. Louis as they meet their Central Division rivals for the second time this season. Bedard scored and assisted in Wednesday’s victory while Spencer Knight recorded a shutout, giving Chicago the exact response they needed following two tough road losses. As the Blackhawks try to build on their progress, all eyes will once again be on Bedard, whose scoring pace has Chicago fans buzzing.

Connor Bedard’s momentum fuels Blackhawks’ rising confidence

Connor Bedard enters this matchup in outstanding form. His goal against the Rangers was his 19th of the season, tying him for third in the NHL in goals. Beyond the goals, Bedard has consistently pushed the pace, created scoring chances, and elevated the play of those around him. His assist on Tyler Bertuzzi’s goal on Wednesday capped another multi-point performance, and his surge has reshaped the Blackhawks’ offensive rhythm.

Chicago’s improved defensive structure also played a key role in their bounce-back win. The Blackhawks limited New York’s chances, kept the middle of the ice protected, and generated clean entries on the rush, something they struggled with earlier in the season. Spencer Knight supported that defensive effort with a 21-save shutout, giving the team stability when they needed it most.

The Blackhawks now head into Enterprise Center knowing they have already beaten the Blues once this season. In their last meeting on Oct. 15, Chicago rolled to an 8-3 victory, showcasing balanced scoring and strong puck movement. Ilya Mikheyev, Alex Vlasic, and others contributed to multi-point games as Chicago overwhelmed St. Louis with speed and offensive depth.

Another factor working in the Blackhawks’ favor is their recent road special teams performance. Chicago currently leads the NHL in road power-play percentage, an impressive turnaround that could prove valuable against a Blues team that has struggled with penalty killing consistency.

With points in five of their last eight road games, Chicago appears more cohesive and confident, and Bedard is the centerpiece of that momentum. His shooting, awareness, and ability to create plays have turned the Blackhawks into a legitimate threat in the offensive zone, even against stronger defensive teams.

Blues searching for stability amid defensive struggles

While the Blackhawks come in with confidence, the Blues enter this matchup searching for stability after a brutal 7-2 loss to the Nashville Predators. In that game, St. Louis allowed six goals in a single period, exposing major issues with defensive-zone coverage and puck management.

The Blues have shown flashes of strong play, such as their recent 2-1 win over Ottawa, but inconsistency has defined their season so far. Jake Neighbours and goalie Joel Hofer have been bright spots, yet the team continues to battle inconsistency in both structure and effort. Compounding matters is the uncertainty surrounding Jordan Kyrou’s leg injury, which leaves a gap in the Blues’ top-six forward group.

Tactically, Friday’s matchup presents concerns for St. Louis. Chicago is expected to attack the middle of the ice early, work the cycle high, and put traffic in front of the net. This could create trouble for Hofer, who may be forced into difficult lateral saves if the Blackhawks maintain speed through the neutral zone.

St. Louis will try to counter with physical play, aggressive forechecking, and quicker puck retrievals, areas where Chicago historically struggles under pressure. But the Blues will need to be much sharper defensively to slow Bedard and the Hawks’ transition game, which has generated high-quality scoring chances in recent outings.

One thing is certain: with Connor Bedard pushing the pace and Chicago looking to stack wins, this Central Division showdown is shaping up to be a hard-fought battle from start to finish.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/connor-bedard-leads-blackhawks-into-st-louis-showdown