Connor Bedard assist helps Blackhawks top Penguins in opener - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — Connor Bedard did not disappoint in his NHL debut.

The Chicago Blackhawks rookie picked up an assist and dazzled occasionally with his skating as his team rallied past Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 on Tuesday night.

The 18-year-old Bedard, the top pick in the NHL draft, played over 21 minutes, often sharing the ice with Crosby, one of his idols. Bedard registered five of the 35 shots Chicago fired at Tristan Jarry as the Blackhawks began a new era with an impressive victory over the veteran-laden Penguins.

Chicago trailed 2-0 when Crosby began his 19th season by scoring his 551st career goal, a shot into an open net off a pass from Jake Guentzel 11:56 into the second period.

The Blackhawks roared back behind goals from Ryan Donato — with a secondary assist from Bedard — in the second period. Bedard, at 18 years and 85 days, became the second-youngest player in Blackhawks history to notch a point in his NHL debut, behind Eddie Olczyk. He became the youngest to get a point in a season opener since Aleksander Barkov on Oct. 3, 2013, and Nathan MacKinnon on Oct. 2, 2013, both at 18 years, 31 days old.

Cole Guttman tied it midway through the third and Jason Dickinson gave Chicago the lead with 4:31 remaining. Nick Foligno's empty-netter with 1:33 to go sent most of the sellout crowd that came to watch one of the NHL's brightest stars take on one of its newest.

Petr Mrazek stopped 38 shots for the Blackhawks.

Crosby and Bryan Rust scored for the Penguins, who had their run of 16 consecutive playoff appearances end last spring thanks in part to a late-season pratfall against the Blackhawks. Pittsburgh retooled over the summer, including adding three-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Erik