In hockey, all 82 games of the season are important. But with broadcasting schedules and teams competing for airtime, it can get tough to catch them all. Here is a list of the top three games on the Blackhawks schedule in the month of October.
Blackhawks Games to Watch in October
Blackhawks vs Utah Hockey Club
The season officially starts on October 8th, 2024. It only makes sense that the Utah Hockey Club plays its inaugural game that day. And what better way to welcome Utah into the NHL than to pit them against one of the NHL’s original six teams? The Chicago Blackhawks.
Even if you can’t make it to the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, this is still a game you will not want to miss. Not only is it a historic game, but it’s sure to be a great match. The Blackhawks and the Utah Hockey Club are relatively evenly matched.
Utah does have an advantage in their core of forwards. Players like Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller will be a challenge. But Chicago has Connor Bedard, Taylor Hall, and the return of Teuvo Teravainen to the lineup.
You will be able to watch this game on ESPN and ESPN+.
Blackhawks vs San Jose Sharks
This is a great game on the Blackhawks schedule. The top youth in the game goes head to head. Starting the season on a four-game road trip that takes the Blackhawks to Utah and then up into Canada is not ideal. But when the home opener finally happens on October 17th, the boys and the fans will be ready to pack the Madhouse on Madison. There’s no better team for them to go up against than the San Jose Sharks.
The Blackhawks and the Sharks have been battling for last place for the previous few seasons. This year probably won’t be much different. Which is what makes this a great game to catch. Both teams are deep into their rebuilds and on the cusp of breaking out. This game should help to give everyone a sense as to which team is closer to making that leap forward from a lottery team, into a bubble team. Regardless of how this game ends, consider it the first in which these two teams are each other’s direct competition.
Also, depending on how the Sharks’ roster shakes out over training camp, this could be the first time Macklin Celebrini skates in the Blackhawks’ barn. A head-to-head match between the last two first-overall draft picks is sure to be exciting.
If you live in Chicago, you will be able to catch this game on NBC Sports.
Blackhawks Take on the Best of the Best
If you want to be the best, take out the best. This is a huge test early on the Blackhawks schedule. On October 26th, the Blackhawks are scheduled to play the Stars in Dallas. Taking last season’s record into account, the Blackhawks only walked away from one matchup against the Stars as the victor. This year it will probably be much the same.
But right now, with current projections and histories put into account, this has the making of a real David and Goliath matchup. A true underdog story. Which is great, because Chicagoans love to root for an underdog.
The bottom line for this game, while it will be a hard one to win, there also won’t be any hard feelings if they lose. But if the Blackhawks do win, imagine the confidence boost that will come with that as the team heads into November where season’s tend to be determined.
If you live in Chicago, you will be able to catch this game on NBC Sports.
Main Photo: Seeger Gray-Imagn Images
