Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard will miss Monday night’s matchup against the Edmonton Oilers due to an illness sweeping through the team’s locker room. The 20-year-old center, who leads the Blackhawks with 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in 33 games, was a late scratch announced just before puck drop at the United Center.
This stomach bug has hit the Blackhawks hard recently, sidelining key players over the weekend. Bedard had just returned from a 12-game absence due to a right shoulder injury, logging two assists in a 3-0 shutout win over Nashville on Saturday. Now, the team faces one of the NHL’s top offenses without its biggest weapon.
Bedard’s impactful season amid setbacks
Bedard has been the Blackhawks’ offensive engine this year. His 19 goals tie him for the team lead, while his 27 assists highlight his playmaking prowess. Despite missing time with the shoulder injury sustained in late December against St. Louis, he remains tied for sixth in NHL scoring with 46 points.
The shoulder issue forced him out for the rest of December, with reevaluation in January, as per NHL.com updates. Bedard returned Friday against Washington, showing rust but promise. Saturday’s performance against Nashville—two assists in a shutout—signaled he was ramping up.
Yet pro hockey’s demands caught up quickly. Posts on X noted Bedard’s visible discomfort and the flu’s grip on Chicago’s room. Coach Jeff Blashill praised his attitude post-shoulder injury: “Honestly, his attitude is good. I think he wants to be back next week.”
The Blackhawks sit at 19-19-7, fifth in the Central Division. Bedard’s points-per-game pace (1.39) ranks seventh league-wide, underscoring his value. Without him, Chicago must lean on depth scorers like Tyler Bertuzzi (23 goals).
Youth fuels their recent surge: 5-1-1 in 2026, outscoring foes 21-15. Special teams shine—perfect 14-for-14 PK last six games, 8-for-19 PP.
Stomach bug ravages Blackhawks locker room
A flu-like illness has decimated Chicago’s lineup. Top goalies Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom missed Saturday, forcing AHL call-up Drew Commesso into a 36-save shutout—his first NHL win and fourth in franchise history for a debut shutout.
Defenseman Louis Crevier also sat Saturday but returns tonight. Forward Colton Dach skated but is scratched. The bug spoiled Bedard’s return game Friday, a 5-1 loss to Washington amid absences.
Coach Blashill noted the unpredictability: “Something I’ve learned about pro hockey is there’s just a lot out of your control.” Commesso echoed this after his heroics.
This comes after a hot streak: wins over Vegas (Bertuzzi hat trick), St. Louis (7-3 rout), and others. The illness tests resilience in a playoff push—three points from wild card.
Chicago’s five-on-five play lags (sixth-worst goal share at 44.97%), per Moneypuck, but special teams compensate. PK at 85% (fourth-best) faces Edmonton’s league-leading PP.
Key returns bolster depleted blue line and crease
Spencer Knight (13-11-6, 2.62 GAA) starts in net, fresh off a win vs. St. Louis. He’s 0-1-2 lifetime vs. Edmonton but steady. Backup Soderblom is available, easing pressure post-Commesso’s run.
Louis Crevier rejoins top pair with Alex Vlasic. Projected lines hold steady otherwise:
Forwards:
- Ryan Greene — (open) — Andre Burakovsky
- Tyler Bertuzzi — Jason Dickinson — Ilya Mikheyev
- Teuvo Teravainen — Oliver Moore — Nick Lardis
- Ryan Donato — Nick Foligno — Landon Slaggert
Defense:
- Alex Vlasic — Louis Crevier
- Wyatt Kaiser — Artyom Levshunov
- Matt Grzelcyk — Connor Murphy
Injuries linger: Frank Nazar (face). Depth players like Bertuzzi (36 points) and young guns (Levshunov, Moore) step up.
Oilers’ star power looms large
Edmonton (22-16-7, 51 points) rides Connor McDavid’s 78 points (30G-48A), second in Pacific. Leon Draisaitl pots goals, Evan Bouchard thrives on PP (33.9%, first overall).
They beat Chicago 3-2 OT on Nov. 1 (Bouchard GWG). Recent form: 2-1-1 in New Year, shootout loss to LA Saturday. McDavid’s 18-game streak continues.
Projected lines feature Nugent-Hopkins-McDavid-Hyman top unit. Goaltender Connor Ingram (3-2-1) faces Chicago for seventh start. Oilers dominate head-to-head: 9-1 last 10, five straight in Chicago.
Their goaltending draws rumors, as explored in Edmonton Oilers goaltending trade rumors for the 2025-26 season. Yet offense carries them—3.38 GF/GP (fourth).
PK weakness (79.5%) vs. Chicago’s PP (23.3%, seventh) offers hope. Still, McDavid’s speed tests Blackhawks’ depleted D.
Lineup adjustments and game implications
Without Bedard, Greene centers top line? Adjustments emphasize net-front chaos, per Blashill: “Tyler’s probably the one guy… great at it.” Bertuzzi leads high-danger goals (15).
Homestand starts crucial: Calgary, Boston, Winnipeg follow. Eight of 12 pre-Olympic break games home. Western wild card tight—Chicago trails San Jose by points.
Chicago Hockey Now preview expected Bedard but highlighted matchup stakes. Watch CHSN, 7:30 p.m. CT.
Youth (third-youngest roster) brings streaks, but PK strength counters Oilers’ PP.
Bedard’s absence is a blow, but returns like Knight/Crevier help. A win keeps playoff pulse alive amid illness woes.
The Blackhawks’ resilience defines 2025-26. Overcoming this bug could spark a surge toward Milano Cortina Olympics contention. Bedard eyes quick return—Chicago grinds on, proving depth in adversity. What it means: every point counts in forgiving West standings.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.