Connor Bedard scored from a seemingly impossible angle as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 on Tuesday night, and the star forward said after the victory that "I've tried that shot a million times and I finally put one in.

Chicago Blackhawks star forward Connor Bedard addressed recent criticism from Mark Messier and Paul Bissonnette, making it clear that outside opinions don’t concern him. The Blackhawks are navigating another lost season, sitting second to last in the league standings with a paltry 15-34-7 record and 38 points, one more than the San Jose Sharks.

Donato erupted for a career-high four points in the Hawks' 6-2 win Friday, simultaneously raising his trade value and making a stronger case for him to stay in Chicago past this season.

But when a team isn’t playing so great, those additional eyeballs and the big-picture focus that comes with national games and commentators can have a more negative effect. This year’s Winter Classic was a great example.

The Chicago Blackhawks are having another year of struggles and disappointments. They are sitting in last place in the Central Division with a record of 16-31-6. On top of their struggles as a team, they have a 19-year-old centre going through a slump.