Connor Bedard ready for battle in hometown as Blackhawks conclude 4-game road trip

Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks look to close out their four-game road trip on a high note in Vancouver against the Canucks Saturday.

Last Time Out...

Chicago suffered a 4-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Frank Nazar and Ilya Mikheyev scored for the Blackhawks, while Spencer Knight made 21 saves in the game.

Chicago has lost three straight games (0-2-1) and is 1-2-2 in its last five games. With the loss, the Blackhawks drop to 20-37-9 of the season.

This is the last meeting of the season between the two teams.

Vancouver has won both previous matchups against Chicago this season, earning a 6-3 victory on Oct. 22 and a 4-1 win on Nov. 16.

Bedard's Redemption...

In his last game in Vancouver, Bedard was held without a point, logging 16:48 of ice time and finishing with a -2 rating.

The 19-year-old leads the Blackhawks with 52 points (17 goals, 35 assists) in 66 games this season.

A strong performance from him could help Chicago snap their three-game skid.

The Other Squad...

Vancouver is coming off a 4-3 shootout win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday and is chasing the Flames for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes returned to the lineup after missing time with a lower-body injury. The game marks the start of a three-game homestand for Vancouver, all being against Central Division opponents.

Jake DeBrusk leads the team in goals (23), while Quinn Hughes is first in assists (47) and points (61).

3 Keys to the Game:

1. Generate Offense: Chicago failed to generate offense and sustain pressure in their last game against San Jose. Applying pressure in the offensive zone will be key to creating scoring chances.

2. Bedard's Second Chance: After being held off the scoresheet in his first game in Vancouver, Bedard has a chance to make an impact this time around.

3. Strong Start in First: The Blackhawks had a sluggish start against San Jose. With another late puck drop, they must establish momentum early in the opening frame.

Puck Drop is set for 9 p.m. CST on CHSN+ and ESPN+.