Blackhawks shift begin instances of residence video games earlier in 2026-27 schedule

Blackhawks followers hoping to convey children to the United Center — or get a little bit extra sleep themselves — shall be in luck throughout the 2026-27 season.

Home sport instances have shifted earlier throughout the board, with most weeknight video games now beginning at 7 p.m. — as an alternative of seven:30 — and all weekend video games now beginning at 6 p.m. or earlier.

The Hawks despatched a survey to some ticket patrons final week inquiring about their most popular begin instances on totally different days. The suggestions was convincing sufficient to vary longstanding traditions, based mostly on the Thursday launch of the official NHL schedule — which expands to 84 regular-season video games this season for the primary time since 1994.

Around the NHL, 7:30 native begin instances have develop into steadily much less widespread, with the Kings, Sharks and Panthers among the many groups shifting earlier in current seasons, and the Hawks have now joined the motion.

Last season, 22 of 26 Hawks residence video games on weeknights (excluding holidays) began at 7:30 or later. This season, 19 of 23 weeknight video games (excluding holidays) will begin at 7:00 or earlier. National TV video games, the timing of that are set by the league, account for a lot of the exceptions.

And Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 of 19 video games are matinees — up from simply three final season — and none are late begins.

The Hawks will open the season on the highway for the ninth consecutive 12 months, though they’ll do it in September for the primary time, with the prolonged season prompting an earlier begin.

They’ll go to the Golden Knights throughout ESPN’s opening-night tripleheader on Sept. 29, then proceed a three-game highway journey with visits to the Mammoth and Sabres.

They’ll host the Blues of their residence opener Oct. 6, then get pleasure from a seven-game residence stand from Oct. 10-27. (They’ll have one other seven-game residence stand from Feb. 17 to Mar. 1.)

Other marquee residence video games embrace a Black Friday (Nov. 27) matinee towards the Rangers and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) matinee towards the Bruins.

In between these dates, they’ll travel to Dusseldorf, Germany, for their two previously announced matchups against the Senators, which are their only games within a two-week span from Dec. 13-27.

They’ll enjoy a bye week to start February, leading into the 2027 NHL All-Star game Feb. 6 (hosted by the Islanders), with two separate visits to the Sharks coincidentally book-ending that break.

If the Hawks hang around the playoff hunt into March, they’ll be tested by two four-game road trips — featuring a combined six games against divisional opponents — during the season’s final weeks. They end the season Apr. 10 at home against the Kraken.