Connor Bedard DESTROYS his stick by slamming it against the boards as Blackhawks are dismantled 5-1 by Red Wings in first game since Corey Perry was waived for 'unacceptable' conduct

Blackhawks center Connor Bedard snapped his stick after slamming it against the boards as Chicago was blown out by the Detroit Red Wings.

Bedard, a first overall pick who is considered one of the finest prospects of his generation, exploded in fury in the second period of Thursday's 5-1 defeat. 

He smashed his stick along the boards until it broke and then threw it on the floor. Bedard's temper boiled over once more when he punched the backboards after heading to the bench.

The embarrassing loss for the Blackhawks came in their first game since releasing veteran Corey Perry.

An internal investigation found that Perry 'engaged in conduct that is unacceptable and in violation of both the terms of his Standard Player's Contract and the Blackhawks' internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments.'

It came just days after the 38-year-old stepped away from the team for personal reasons and earlier on Thursday, Perry announced in a statement that he was seeking help for his mental health and alcohol struggles.  

Perry also denied that his release was related to his teammates or their families. 

On the ice on Thursday night, JT Compher and Robby Fabbri both scored twice for the Red Wings.

Bedard set up Lukas Reichel for a tying goal early in the first period, giving the rookie center a team-high 18 points in 21 games, but the Blackhawks couldn't keep up at either end of the ice as they lost for the seventh time in nine games.

Alex Lyon stopped 34 shots for the Red Wings, who have won four of five games to build momentum ahead of Patrick Kane's expected debut with the team next week.

Former Detroit goaltender Petr Mrazek had 24 saves.

Compher scored a short-handed goal 2:29 into the first, finishing an odd-man rush with Andrew Copp. A minute later, Bedard's behind-the-net pass assisted Reichel on his second goal this season.

Fabbri, who had a goal and an assist in a loss at the New York Rangers on Wednesday night, dangled the puck around flailing defenseman Wyatt Kaiser and his backhander gave the Red Wings a go-ahead goal midway through the first. In 10 games in an injury-shortened season, Fabbri has seven goals.

Detroit pulled away in the second, going ahead by two on Ben Chiarot's goal and taking a 4-1 lead with its suddenly potent power play.

Compher's goal extended the Red Wings' power-play scoring streak to five games after going five games without scoring on the power play. It was Compher's ninth career multigoal game and first since Dec. 1, 2022, when the winger played for Colorado.

Fabbri's second goal midway through the third allowed the Red Wings to coast with a four-goal lead and gave them an eighth goal on the power play in five games.

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin missed his second straight game with an injury. Larkin is expected to return soon and will perhaps have Kane on the top line, putting him with former Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat.