Ex-Blackhawk Brandon Saad causes a dangerous scene on Connor Bedard Tuesday

The hit came early in the second period when Saad, now thirty two and carrying nine goals this season, closed fast along the right boards. Bedard, who entered Tuesday with twenty three points in twenty five games, tried to pivot for a clean exit but lost his edge as Saad's shoulder pressed through him.

Officials kept their whistles quiet, calling the collision incidental, although the crowd inside the United Center voiced a different judgment. Bedard stayed down briefly, then returned for his next shift and skated with his usual jump, which eased some of the tension in the building.

Chicago built real momentum after the scare. Lukas Reichel pushed the pace, and the Blackhawks generated eleven slot attempts in the final forty minutes. Their forecheck created long cycles, and their penalty kill forced three dump outs from Vegas. Chicago even outshot the Golden Knights 16 to 8 in the third.

Fans around me muttered that the moment felt like a rivalry reboot, a strange mix of nostalgia and anger stirred by a former favorite catching the new star high.

The push continued into overtime, where Bedard nearly ended it with a quick wrister off a Patrick Kane feed. Vegas survived, then won the shootout when Jonathan Marchessault beat Petr Mrazek low blocker. It stung because Chicago had controlled long stretches, posting a season high fifty three percent expected goals at five on five.

Still, the larger victory came from Bedard finishing the night without damage. At eighteen and carrying a salary of $950,000, he remains the center of everything Chicago hopes to build. His balance and poise after that collision underlined why he was drafted first overall in 2023 and why teammates already look to him in tight moments.

This loss leaves Chicago at 10 wins and 14 losses, yet the group walked out proud of the push. They just avoided losing their brightest piece, which mattered more than the single point.