NHL On Tap: Bedard, Carlsson go head-to-head when Blackhawks host Ducks

Face to face with terrifying 20-year-olds

The future of the NHL is now a matter of some of the NHL’s young talent, and nowhere will that be more evident than in Chicago where two rising forwards, each just 20 years old, take to the ice when the Chicago Blackhawks (10-9-5) take on the Anaheim Ducks (15-8-1) at the United Center (3:30 p.m. ET; Victory+, CHSN, KCOP-13, SNP, SNO, SNE). Let’s host. It was just two years ago that Connor Bedard and Leo Karlsson were the first two players selected by the Blackhawks and Ducks in the 2023 NHL Draft, respectively. It didn’t take long for everyone to tell why; Bedard (14 goals, 19 assists) and Karlsson (13 goals, 20 assists) are fourth in the league in scoring with 33 points.

Quenneville visits Chicago again

How well are the Ducks playing under coach Joel Quenneville? Consider this timeline: When Chicago beat Anaheim 2-1 on Ryan Donato’s overtime goal during Quenneville’s return to the United Center on October 19, the Ducks record fell to 2-2-1 on the young season. Since then, Anaheim is 13-6-0 and tied for first in the Pacific Division with the Los Angeles Kings (12-6-7) with 31 points. If you buy the notion that the standings in the US at Thanksgiving typically reflect which teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Ducks are intent on clinching a berth for the first time since 2018. Quenneville, who helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015), is certainly trending Anaheim in the right direction.

capital gains

Jacob Chykrun is increasingly proving that his career-best 2024-25 season was no fluke. The 27-year-old, who set personal highs for goals (20) and points (27) last season, could set a franchise record for the longest point streak by a defenseman when his Washington Capitals (14-9-2) visit the New York Islanders (13-9-3) at UBS Arena (1 p.m. ET; MNMT, MSGSN, NHLN, SN, TVAS). Chykrun has 13 points (seven goals, six assists) during his current 10-game point streak, an impressive run that includes five consecutive games with a goal, including a 4-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday. The only other Capitals defensemen to have point streaks that long are Al Iaffret (1992–93) and Robert Pickard (1978–79). In the process, Chicrun’s recent play has put him in the conversation as a dark-horse candidate to represent the United States at the Olympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina 2026. Alex Ovechkin has 11 points (seven goals, six assists) in his last eight games for Washington, which has won three in a row.

bradys bunch

If Brady Tkachuk’s first game back from injury was any indication, he’s in midseason form for the Ottawa Senators (12-8-4), who visit the Dallas Stars (16-5-4) at American Airlines Center (6 p.m. ET; Victory+, TSN5, TVAS). The Senators captain was impressive in his return Friday from thumb surgery; Showing little to no rust with an assist in a 4–3 loss to the St. Louis Blues, eight shots on goal and three hits in 17:12 of ice time. The Stars are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, including winning three in a row. Jason Robertson has 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in his last 14 games.

Tejaswi Seth

With just over a month left for participating nations to announce their full rosters for the Olympics, forward Seth Jarvis is bringing his game to the spotlight when it comes to Team Canada. The 23-year-old, who represented Canada in the 4-Nation Face-Off last season, has scored five goals in his last four games heading into Carolina’s game against the visiting Calgary Flames (5 p.m. ET: FDSNSO, SNP(JIP), SNO(JIP), SNE(JIP), SNW. Jarvis scored a hat trick in the Hurricanes’ 5-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday and is tied with five other players for fifth in the NHL with 15 goals.

Schedule

Washington Capitals at New York Islanders (1 p.m. ET; MNMT, MSGSN, NHLN, SN, TVAS)

Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks (3:30 p.m.; Victory+, CHSN, KCOP-13, SNP, SNO, SNE)

Calgary Flames at Carolina Hurricanes (5 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, SNP(JIP), SNO(JIP), SNE(JIP), SNW

Ottawa Senators at Dallas Stars (6 p.m. ET; Victory+, TSN5, TVAS)