Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard scores first goal of 2026 with help from Patrick Kane

Connor Bedard finally gets a goal in the 2026-27 NHL season. The Chicago Blackhawks star center found the back of the net for the first time this season during the opening period of Thursday night’s game against the visiting Winnipeg Jets at the United Center in Chicago.

Bedard sniped one on the power play, as Jets goalie Stuart Skinner couldn’t beat the Blackhawks star’s shot in time. The goal was also off the assist from Patrick Kane and Tyler Bertuzzi.

You can watch Bedard’s goal here.

It took this long for Bedard to score a goal largely because he missed the first six Chicago games. He underwent surgery on his left shoulder on July 8, and only made his season debut in a home game on Tuesday against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Bedard had an assist in that contest, helping the Blackhawks come away with a 5-3 win.

The 21-year-old Bedard kept it going on Thursday, as he now has a two-game point streak going for him.

The former No. 1 overall pick is in his fourth season in the NHL, and is still getting better. Last season, Bedard put up career highs of 30 goals and 45 assists for a total of 75 points, but only played in 69 games.

It is also worth noting the historical impact of that play from Bedard, particularly concerning Kane, whose assist on Bedard’s goal gave him his 895th helper of his NHL career. Kane now owns the all-time record for most assists in the NHL by an American-born forward.