Star rookie Connor Bedard suffered a fractured jaw and has been placed on injured reserve, the Chicago Blackhawks announced Saturday.
Bedard sustained the injury during the first period of Friday’s 4-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils after he was hit by Devils defenceman Brendan Smith.
The 18-year-old Bedard skated back to the bench while holding his face and did not return to the game. Smith did not receive a penalty for the hit.
Bedard, who was drafted first overall last June, leads all rookies with 33 points (15 goals and 18 assists) in 39 games.
Chicago also placed forward Nick Foligno on the injured reserve due to a fractured finger.
Foligno left the game following a fight with Smith in the second period.
Bedard and Foligno join a long list of Blackhawks on the IR that also includes Taylor Hall, Tyler Johnson, Andreas Athanasiou, Anthony Beauvillier, Taylor Raddysh, Joey Anderson and Seth Jones.
Chicago has now lost five consecutive games and is last in the Central Division with an 11-26-2 record (24 points).
A fractured jaw typically takes five to six weeks to recover from for players in the NHL. Boone Jenner of the Columbus Blue Jackets suffered a fractured jaw in early December and is expected to return in time for the NHL All-Star Game on Feb. 3.
