Blackhawks HC Jeff Blashill voices his frustration with refs over missed no-call on Connor Bedard's breakaway

NHL: Chicago Blackhawks at Calgary Flames - Source: Imagn
Blackhawks HC Jeff Blashill voices his frustration with refs over missed no-call on Connor Bedard's breakaway - Source: Imagn

Connor Bedard was at the center of controversy in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. A missed slashing call on his breakaway led to a penalty against Bedard. That call set up Seattle’s winning goal. After the game, head coach Jeff Blashill expressed clear frustration with the officials for missing the initial infraction.

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With just over four minutes left, Bedard broke free for a prime scoring chance but appeared to be slashed on the glove before releasing the puck. No call was made, prompting the 20-year-old star to passionately argue with the referee.

Bedard was hit with a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. Seattle capitalized immediately, with Jaden Schwartz scoring on the ensuing power play to seal the win.

Blashill spoke about the Connor Bedard incident to the media, saying:

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"It's a penalty, you know. So, like, that's where, like, we got to control. We can control. But when I walk in the room and see, like, when you don't position the guy, and you put your stick in there, and you hit his glove, which he did, yes, he got the stick after, but the first contact was on his glove. That's a penalty. It's a penalty.
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The coach then questioned the sensitivity of the officials.

And then, you know, like, I don't know what was said,"Blashill said. "It better have been really, really, really, really personal to be that sensitive about it, because you're deciding games.
"So if, if it was super personal, I wasn't there, I don't know, but it better have been really, really, really personal if you're not gonna have enough thick skin to just keep playing through it."
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Connor Bedard's comments following Chicago's loss

Tyler Bertuzzi scored first for Chicago early in the second period. Teuvo Teravainen added the second goal on a power play after a one-handed pass from Bertuzzi.

Seattle began its comeback in the third period. Tye Kartye made it 2-1 with a deflection in front. Shane Wright tied the game 2-2, following which Schwartz scored the winning goal.

After the game, Connor Bedard accepted responsibility for his reaction.

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"Obviously, in the moment, you think it’s a penalty, but I have to control my emotions in a better way," Bedard said to the media about the penalty. "I put our team in a vulnerable spot there, so just got to be better... Just learn from it and don't let it happen again."

Despite the loss and injuries, the Blackhawks remain in a playoff position at 10-6-4, with Connor Bedard sitting fourth in league scoring at 29 points.

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Edited by Ankit Kumar
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