Connor Bedard and Blackhawks Fall Short in 5-3 Defeat to Panthers

Connor Bedard and the struggling Chicago Blackhawks dropped a 5-3 decision to the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena. Bedard took a neutral-zone penalty on Lars Eller in the first period, which led directly to a Florida power-play goal by Carter Verhaeghe. Despite late third-period pushback from Chicago, the Blackhawks were unable to complete the comeback, falling as Florida wrapped up its homestand.