Connor Bedard unleashes on referees during the game and goes even further postgame

Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard had an eventful and emotional Thursday night, one that quickly turned from frustration to outright anger as another teammate went down from a dangerous hit.

Bedard’s first flashpoint came in the third period, when he was hauled down on a breakaway but received no call. Furious, he skated immediately toward the referee yelling, “Are you f**king kidding me!?”

The officials didn’t appreciate it, handing him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The timing couldn’t have been worse: the Seattle Kraken scored the eventual game-winner on the ensuing power play.

After the game, Bedard took accountability for putting his team in that position.

“Obviously in the moment you think it’s a penalty but I have to control my emotions in a better way,” he said. “I put our team in a vulnerable spot there, so just got to be better.”

But his restraint didn’t last long.

Late in the first period, Blackhawks winger Andre Burakovsky was crushed by a massive open-ice hit from Seattle’s Ryan Lindgren. Burakovsky stayed down, left the game, and did not return. Head coach Jeff Blashill later confirmed Burakovsky will also miss Friday’s matchup against the Buffalo Sabres and added he believed Lindgren should have been penalized on the play.

Then, Bedard didn’t mince words when asked about the hit.

“It’s back-to-back games of guys going right to the head… It’s bullshit,” he said, openly calling out the lack of protection for his teammates.

Chicago’s frustrations continue to mount, and Bedard’s comments make it clear the Blackhawks’ patience with the officiating is wearing off.