To state it simply, the Chicago Blackhawks aren’t having the best season. In fact, that’s an understatement because the Blackhawks have suffered 31 losses this season. They currently occupy the second place from the bottom. Meanwhile, Paul Bissonnette’s criticism of one of their most promising talents has only added to the gloom. So, it’s no surprise that the team was hungry to prove a point.

That opportunity came against the Nashville Predators, who sit just above the Blackhawks on the points table. So Connor Bedard and Co. wasted no time in taking control of the match inside United Center, Chicago, ultimately heading the Predators to a 6-2 thrashing. Shortly after their dominant victory, the Blackhawks MVP credited Landon Slaggart for unconventionally boosting the team’s morale.

Landon Slaggart earned his teammates’ respect

The Chicago Blackhawks players refused to cut the Predators any slack just because they were winning at home. It was during one such tenacious scoring attempt that led to Slaggart clashing with Predators defenseman Luke Schenn. The pair crashed into the sidewall after a tussle for the puck, and suddenly all it took was a split second for the gloves to come off.

Despite the slight size disadvantage, Slaggart charged Luke Schenn and even slipped in a few punches before nearly getting overpowered by the defenseman. After the match, Ryan Donato, who scored twice in their six-goal victory, praised Slaggerts tenacity. “He did a great job holding his own and did a good job protecting himself after. That definitely gave us a spark,” said Donato.

However, Donato who also notched two assists on the night also explained that Slaggart acted on an adrenalin rush. “He got excited, and when the adrenaline gets you, stuff happens. Afterward, he was like, ‘Oh boy.'” said the 28-year-old as per Chicago Blackhawks beat reporter Ben Pope. However, Landon Slaggart wasn’t the only one who wanted to prove a point.

Another Chicago Blackhawks star let actions speak louder than words

Before the team got their dominant win against the Nashville Predators, Spittin’ Chiclets co-host Paul Bissonnette had some harsh words for Connor Bedard. The retired hockey player explained that some of Connor Bedard’s habits may be costing the Blackhawks some games. “There are so many details to his game that he’s lacking right now,” said BizNasty.

The podcast host showed examples of Bedard turning over the puck and conceding penalties. While Bissonnette acknowledged the 19-year-old may be scoring goals, but said that his approach may be detrimental to the Chicago Blackhawks’ bottom line. “They’re going to continue to lose hockey games. That is pond hockey,” said the former NHL player.

Bedard had already responded to the criticism. “Their job is to say what they see. I couldn’t care less what people on the outside think of me. But I’m not going to be bu**hurt if someone says I made a bad play. It’s their job,” the 19-year-old said in his mature response to BizNasty. However, he also showed exactly what he meant on the ice against the Predators.

The Chicago Blackhawks star didn’t just score one goal but also made the right plays, contributing to another goal with an assist. So, it’s safe to say that while this victory won’t turn around their fortunes, the Blackhawks showed that they are not a team to be underestimated.