There were only three games last night in the National Hockey League, but there were still a few events to remember.
Here are the highlights.
3. Connor Bedard leaves the game after a heavy body check
Last night, as the Chicago Blackhawks visited the New Jersey Devils, we witnessed a somewhat disturbing scene, as young sensation Connor Bedard left the game after receiving a body check.
Connor Bedard’s game is over after this check.
Let’s hope for the #Blackhawks it’s more fear than harm.
pic.twitter.com/g7kX2kJpM4– Félix Forget (@FForget_LTM) January 6, 2024
Bedard looked out of sorts after the heavy first-period contact, and didn’t return to the game.
Of course, the Blackhawks players wasted no time coming to their star player’s defense.
Philipp Kurashev and Nick Foligno went after Brendan Smith for his body check.
NOBODY TOUCHES BEDARD 😡 pic.twitter.com/wX8wgRC7kS
– Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) January 6, 2024
Nick Foligno even added to his tally in the second period, dropping the gloves on Smith.
Nick Foligno drops the gloves with Brendan Smith, who injured Connor Bedard in the first period with a big hit.
One of the longest fights of the season. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/ercUKWN2e5
– Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 6, 2024
Anyway, let’s hope it’s more fear than harm for the Blackhawks (and the whole hockey planet), and that Bedard isn’t seriously injured.
It would be a huge loss not only for Chicago, but for the entire hockey world, if Bedard were to miss several games.
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2. A day Vasily Ponomarev will long remember
There are some memorable days in a professional hockey player’s career.
Whether it’s the day of a first NHL call-up, the day of a first NHL game, the day of a first NHL point or goal, and so on.
These are all important moments in a player’s career.
Now, imagine if all these firsts happened on the same day in the space of a few hours.
Well, yesterday, that was the case for Carolina Hurricanes prospect Vasily Ponomarev.
Here are the details of his day.
Vasily Ponomarev’s day…
10h00 – Recalled from club-school
1:00 PM – Flight from Chicago to DC
5:00 pm – Arrival at Capital One Arena
7:00 PM – NHL debut
9:10 PM – First NHL point
9:40 PM – First NHL goalWhat a day for the former @Cataractes_Shaw… pic.twitter.com/mep7Pw4roB
– RDS (@RDSca) January 6, 2024
All in the space of less than 12 hours.
It’s truly a day that Ponomarev will remember for a long time.
Here’s the 21-year-old Hurricanes prospect’s first NHL goal.
Welcome to the NHL, Vasily Ponomarev! 💪
His first NHL tally caps off six unanswered goals for the @Canes! pic.twitter.com/FIAY0iwjbL
– NHL (@NHL) January 6, 2024
He earned his first NHL point earlier in the game on a goal by Seth Jarvis.
First @NHL point for Vasily Ponomarev ‼️ pic.twitter.com/n6cPfVCsJz
– Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 6, 2024
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3. Jets take NHL lead
The Vancouver Canucks aren’t the only Canadian team enjoying a full 2023-2024 season.
The Winnipeg Jets are having just as good, if not better, a season than the Canucks.
Last night, Rick Bowness’ team took on the poor Anaheim Ducks.
It ended in a 3-1 victory for the Jets.
🥳 Goal Perfetti 🥳 pic.twitter.com/vFTCM7iZ8Z
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 6, 2024
What might have seemed like just a run-of-the-mill victory turned out not to be, given that the win put the Jets at the top of the overall NHL standings.
In short, the Jets are excellent this season, and they don’t seem ready to slow down.
It’s nice to see two Canadian teams in the NHL’s top-5, even if that doesn’t include the Montreal Canadiens.
Extended
– Here are all yesterday’s results.
The @Canes scored five goals in the third period of their comeback win against the Capitals, marking their most in the final frame since Jan. 1, 2022 (5 at CBJ).#NHLStats: https://t.co/4RivSRKCiq pic.twitter.com/pO5is9V7KH
– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 6, 2024
– Here are yesterday’s top scorers.
– Today’s NHL schedule: 14 games.