Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard left Friday evening’s recreation in opposition to the New Jersey Devils and didn’t return following a giant hit from Brendan Smith. On Saturday, the Blackhawks introduced that Bedard has been positioned on injured reserve with a fractured jaw.

Within the first interval, Bedard was carrying the puck into the Devils’ zone when Smith stepped up and laid successful on him. Bedard popped up holding his jaw as he went to the locker room.

Smith was not known as for a penalty, however he and Chicago ahead Nick Foligno took roughing penalties within the ensuing scuffle. Within the second interval, Smith and Foligno tangled once more, this time dropping the gloves for a combat.

After that bout, Foligno exited the sport with an damage, and he has additionally been positioned on IR because of a fractured left finger.

Whereas the Blackhawks clearly took exception to the hit, Richardson wasn’t certain whether or not it was a unclean play by Smith. Richardson stated it was unlucky timing that Bedard was in a susceptible place when Smith went to make contact.

“I do not know if it was soiled,” Richardson stated. “I feel Connor was reaching for a puck and did not see him as a result of he was behind one other one among their gamers. I do not suppose he stepped up on him. I feel he simply form of stopped, and Connor form of ran headfirst proper into him. I do not suppose there was intent to hit there or something. I feel he was simply enjoying laborious on the blue line and attempting to maintain the puck out on the penalty kill.”

The Blackhawks’ subsequent recreation is in opposition to the Calgary Flames on Sunday afternoon, so there’ll seemingly be an replace on Bedard’s standing earlier than then.