> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://eatthehatchet-hockey.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Return of Bedard: Blackhawks vs. Penguins - URL: https://eatthehatchet-hockey.com/blackhawks-penguins-bedard-return-zone-entries-analysis/ - Published: 2026-10-14T15:19:43.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-14T15:19:43.000Z - Description: Analyzing Bedard's return in the Blackhawks 5-3 win over the Penguins. - Author: Steve Kwiatkowski - Tags: Game Recaps Connor Bedard made an immediate impact in his return. The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 at home in what's easily their best win of the season (only their second win, at that). What's interesting is that the numbers didn't exactly line up with the eye test. This could be because of the excitement over Bedard's return and Kantserov's two-goal performance, but at 5-on-5, Chicago didn't dominate. They owned only 37.04 percent of unblocked shot attempts, were outchanced 11-24, and finished with a 32.45 percent expected goals share. > All stats are from NaturalStatTrick.com and are 5-on-5 unless otherwise noted. > > Hand tracked zone entry data is at the bottom of the article. ## Connor Bedard's Impact Bedard's impact was immediate. While the expected goals share he gave the Hawks isn't eye popping (50.09 percent) and his unblocked shot attempt share was dampened by prolonged defensive zone shifts (45 percent Fenwick), Bedard was excellent in zone entries. 0:00 /0:12 1× Connor Bedard zone entry In the clip above, Bedard entered the offensive zone wide, drew in two Pittsburgh defenders, then passed across to Artyom Levshunov while Roman Kantserov and Patrick Kane skated deep to spread the zone. In that same sequence, we can observe what went well for Chicago and what didn't. At 0:06, Roman Kantserov is at the front of the net (he led Chicago in high-danger chances with three). But a loose puck leaves the slot and the Blackhawks' zone time is ended. Bedard led the team with seven zone entries, five of which were controlled. Bedard's entries generated three unblocked shot attempts, all of which came from controlled entries. ## Blackhawks Offense Of the three games that I've tracked zone entries, this was Chicago's best effort. While it's easy to understand the [Blackhawks' difficulties against the Carolina Hurricanes](https://eatthehatchet-hockey.com/blackhawks-hurricanes-zone-entry-breakdown-stats-game-recap/), they had a much better time against the Penguins. I only tracked three failed zone entries (they had 12 against Carolina), and 49 percent of their entries were controlled carries (their best of the three games). But once they were in the zone, generating offense was still a little lackluster. Let's watch another Bedard entry. 0:00 /0:42 1× The sequence above followed immediately after a strong offensive zone possession, so the players had been on the ice for some time. We see Kantserov deflecting a shot (0:08), Bedard whiffing a shot (0:11), and then the Hawks work the puck around the perimeter for the remainder of the shift until Levshunov's shot on goal is gloved. Chicago needs to get to the slot. In the heat map below, two of their goals came from the slot. Where it's only a little red, that needs to get dark (like the Penguins' blue on the other side) ![Blackhawks shot heat map](https://eatthehatchet-hockey.com/content/images/2026/10/Blackhawks_Penguins_shot_heatmap.png) Blackhawks shot heat map ## Extra Observations - While Sam Rinzel put up some ugly numbers (a 12.57 expected goals share), this play caught my eye. 0:00 /0:08 1× - Rinzel made a play at the red line, forced a turnover, passed the puck to Patrick Kane for a chip-in to Connor Bedard, who finished the sequence with a nice chance. - The power play looked much better with Kane on his natural side and the obvious boost from Connor Bedard. In their two power play attempts, they scored on one (Kantserov), generated four unblocked shot attempts, and three shots on goal. - Kantserov was solid at 5-on-5 with three shots on goal, four shot attempts, and four scoring chances. He also had four zone entries, two of which were controlled. Those entries did not generate any shot attempts. - Anton Frondell was matched against Sidney Crosby's line. Frondell was outscored 2-1 but outshot Crosby's line 5-4\. Anton Frondell had three zone entries, which generated two shots. He was also solid on the dot: a 56.25 percent faceoff percentage (winning nine, losing seven). --- Zone entries have been merged with play-by-play data to identify which entries generate unblocked shot attempts and shots on goal.