The Chicago Blackhawks and the San Jose Sharks meet Monday in a matchup of two of hockey’s youngest stars, with the Blackhawks' Connor Bedard and the Sharks' Macklin Celebrini drawing more comparisons each passing day.
The timing of this meeting and how the standings have shaped up during the homestretch of the season adds to the interest.
San Jose enters the game still in the playoff picture, just two points off the second wild-card berth. Chicago, meanwhile, is out of the running amid another tough season.
Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Bedard, however, is not dwelling on the gap between the ascending Sharks and the Blackhawks.
He was asked about the time he missed earlier this season and how that could have changed Chicago's fate and helped the team reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and he took an optimistic view.
“You never want to get hurt,” Bedard said. “You always want to play as many games as you can. But that’s not always going to be how it goes. I try not to look back at it too much.”
The Blackhawks center was among the league’s top producers early in the season before a shoulder injury in December interrupted his momentum.
As things stand entering Monday's matchup, Bedard has 71 points in 64 games to Celebrini's 106 in 75. That said, Bedard sounded happy about his overall production.
“I think since the break, I’ve created a ton, maybe more than when I was up there in points,” Bedard said. “I feel pretty good. I probably felt my best that I played.
“I kind of grew a bit in my game and stuff. I’m confident in myself. And I’m going to get better every year.”
Chicago enters the game against the Sharks with a 28-35-14 record and 70 points, while San Jose sits at 36-32-7 and has 79 points. Puck drop is set for 10 p.m. ET.
