The Chicago Blackhawks will host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 7 for their 2018-19 regular-season home opener, the team announced Wednesday. Chicago will open the season Oct. 4 against the Senators in Ottawa.
The complete schedule will be released at 4 p.m. Thursday.
The Hawks dropped both games in overtime to Toronto last season. The Maple Leafs won 4-3 at home in Chicago’s third game of the season, and Toronto skated away with a 3-2 victory in January at the United Center.
The Hawks were 2-0 against Ottawa, with a 8-2 victory Jan. 9 at Ottawa before a 3-2 shootout win Feb. 21 at home.
The seven-team Central Division will play 26 divisional games. The Hawks will have two home and road games against four teams within the division, one series of three home games and two road games and one series of two home games and three road games.
Chicago will play three games each against all eight Pacific Division teams. This will include four series with two home games and one road game, and four with one home game and two road games for 24 total games.
The remaining 32 games on the Hawks’ 82-game schedule will be made up of a home-and-home series against each of the 16 teams in the Eastern Conference.