Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard plays in record-breaking games on ESPN, TNT: What the viewership means for Chicago

The hype around Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard manifested itself in TV viewership on Tuesday and Wednesday, when both ESPN and TNT set record numbers. Here’s what you need to know:

ESPN’s broadcast of the Blackhawks’ season-opening win over the Pittsburgh Penguins averaged 1.43 million viewers, becoming the network’s most-viewed regular-season NHL game.
The Blackhawks-Penguins game pittted two No. 1 picks against each other, when 18-year-old Bedard took on 36-year-old Sidney Crosby.
The Blackhawks’ loss to the Boston Bruins one day later averaged…