Blackhawks Beat Penguins 5-3 in Bedard Debut

Chicago beat Pittsburgh 5-3 on Oct. 13, 2026, in Connor Bedard's season debut as captain after July 8 left-shoulder surgery during the NHL's Frozen Frenzy. Teuvo Teravainen scored 28 seconds in off Anton Frondell's pass, then the game-winner with 4:18 left in the third. Roman Kantserov scored twice; Bedard and Bowen Byram assisted his late first-period power-play goal for Bedard's first point of the season, and Artyom Levshunov set up his second at 10:32 of the second. Patrick Kane's secondary assist was his 894th, tying Phil Housley for most by a U.S.-born NHL player. Sidney Crosby scored twice, tying the game 1-1 at 6:57 of the first off a 2-on-1 with Karlsson; his third-period goal was his 656th, tying Brendan Shanahan for 14th all-time. Spencer Knight made 24 saves. Accounts differ on Crosby's second-goal time, citing 9:17 of the third or 10:43 left. Bedard said after shouldering Connor Dewar on his first shift that he was happy to rub a guy out rather than get blown up as last year. Blashill said Bedard creates separation, Kantserov goes to the net, and the team had strike chances and did not shoot.