The Chicago Blackhawks released their 2015-16 regular-season schedule Thursday morning, giving fans a look at the road to defending the Stanley Cup. Here are 10 highlights from next season’s schedule:
1. Wednesday, Oct. 7: Hawks vs. Rangers – Banner Night
The Hawks open the season at home against the New York Rangers. Prior to puck drop, the Hawks will raise their sixth Stanley Cup championship banner to the United Center rafters.
2. Friday, Oct. 9: Hawks at Islanders – New home in New York
Two days later, the Hawks will play in the first NHL regular-season game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The New York Islanders will call Brooklyn home after 43 years on Long Island at the Nassau Coliseum.
3. Saturday, Oct. 24: Hawks vs. Lightning – Strike Back
The first Stanley Cup rematch of the season will happen at the United Center. Both teams are early favorites to make their respectively conference final again and to contend for the Stanley Cup.
4. Monday, Oct. 26: Hawks vs. Ducks – Let’s Get Physical
Two nights later, the Hawks will host the Anaheim Ducks in a Western Conference Final rematch. Both teams are projected to make the postseason again.
5. Sunday, Nov. 8: Hawks vs. Oilers – The Kid
The Hawks will host the Edmonton Oilers and No. 1 draft pick Connor McDavid. It’ll be Hawks fans first glimpse at seeing the boy wonder in person.
6. Wednesday, Nov. 18: Saturday, Nov. 28 – Circus Trip
The Hawks longest road trip — 10 days long — of the season will begin in Edmonton and end in Los Angeles. The team will navigate down the Pacific coast, visiting Calgary, Vancouver, San Jose and Anaheim before completing the trip at Staples Center.
7. Sunday, Feb. 21: Hawks at Wild – Outdoor Game
For the fourth time in franchise history, the Hawks will play outdoors. The Minnesota Wild will host the Hawks at TCF Bank Stadium to drop the puck on the two-game 2016 Stadium Series. The Hawks are 1-2 all-time with their lone win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Soldier Field in 2014.
8. Sunday, March 6: Hawks vs. Red Wings – Chelios Return
This shouldn’t require too much explanation. The former division rival Red Wings make their only trip to Chicago four days after the Hawks visit Detroit. This year there’s an added twist with a head coach in Jeff Blashill behind the bench for Detroit and former Hawks great and Chicagoland native Chris Chelios as an assistant coach.
9. Thursday, April 7: Hawks vs. Blues – Home finale
The Hawks vs. Blues has become the nastiest rivalry since the Central Division was restructured. A first-round playoff matchup in 2013 and consecutive first-round exits for the Blues, while the Hawks have won three Stanley Cups in six seasons has certainly added fuel to that fire. It’s the last divisional game for the Hawks and could prove vital to playoff seeding and whether they’ll be able to rest players in Columbus two days later in the regular-season finale.
10. Saturday, April 9: Hawks at Blue Jackets – Season finale
The Hawks will close their regular-season in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. If the 2015-16 regular-season is as close as this past season was down the stretch, even the season finale will be vital for playoff seeding. The Hawks could be in a position like last season to rest players if they’re virtually locked into a spot or they have to play their star players to fight for a wild-card spot.
Honorable Mention: Saturday, Nov. 14: Hawks at Blues
The first regular-season matchup against the hated Central Division rivals. This rivalry has been building during the past few years and Hawks fans will likely be chirping about six championship banners and not baseball when they arrive at Scottrade Center.
Honorable Mention: Thursday, Dec. 10: Hawks at Predators
Another playoff rematch from a season ago will occur when the Hawks visit the Music City. This matchup has become less and less about the actual play on the ice and more about the Predators ticket initiative to “Keep The Red Out.”
Honorable Mention: Sunday, Jan. 17: Habs vs. Hawks
Hawks fans, both young and old should have this date marked down. For the younger fans, this is an opportunity to see one of the best goaltenders of the current generation in Carey Price and a solid defenseman in P.K. Subban. For the older fans, it’s a time to remember the intense games between the two Original Six clubs, notably in the 1970s.
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If there there any games on the schedule that weren’t on this list that are a must-see, let us know in the comments.
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