How Blackhawks' Connor Bedard Got His Groove Back

Must feel pretty cool to score a goal like that one, the spectacularly uncool reporter notes.

«I don't know, I expect it from myself,» Bedard said. «Not necessarily the toe drag or whatever, but I expect to make plays and get myself into spots where I have the ability to get a shot off and score. It feels good to score, for sure. But I don't want to be surprised if I make a nice play. I expect to make nice plays.»

«It's like riding a bike,» King said he told Bedard. «You're a skilled player, you don't lose that. So don't overthink it. Focus on little things, whether it's a good backcheck, or you laid a puck deep, or you blocked a shot, whatever it is for you. Just go play. Don't think about all the other things. You make a mistake - who cares? You come back to the bench, I'll yap at you, I'll tell you and I'll help you. But he's done a good job. He's starting to get his little groove back again and feeling it. Every player goes through it, I don't care how good you are.»

«I felt great the first 10 games, and then had a little stretch where I didn't feel great,» Bedard said. «But when I'm getting the puck - and for me, that's putting myself in good areas to get the puck, not cheating things - then I'm able to make plays and let my creativity take over. (Against the Islanders), I got the puck a lot in really good spots. That's the main thing for me.»