Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Bedard skated for the first time on Monday since sustaining an upper-body injury, but there is still no timeline for the Blackhawks center’s return. Bedard was injured with one second left in the third period of a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 12 while taking a face-off. Blues center Brayden Schenn went in for a stick lift and knocked into Bedard, who fell backward to the ice. He was clutching his right shoulder as he headed toward the locker room. “It’s a good sign, but the timeline’s probably still going to be the timeline, and we’ll work through it,” said Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill, who expects to have a better idea when Bedard is reevaluated in January. On Monday, Bedard skated and stickhandled the puck but did not take any shots. He has 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 31 games this season. … Frank Nazar, who sustained a facial injury when he was hit by a puck during a 6-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 20, hasn’t resumed skating but has started to eat solid food again, Blashill said. The forward has 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 33 games for Chicago, which hosts the New York Islanders on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; CHSN, MSGSN, NHLN). … Forward Dominic Toninato was reassigned to Rockford of the American Hockey League on Monday.
