Blackhawks fans hoping to bring kids to the United Center — or get a little more sleep themselves — will be in luck during the 2026-27 season.
Home game times have shifted earlier across the board, with most weeknight games now starting at 7 p.m. — instead of 7:30 — and all weekend games now starting at 6 p.m. or earlier.
The Hawks sent a survey to some ticket buyers last week inquiring about their preferred start times on different days. The feedback was convincing enough to change longstanding traditions, based on the Thursday release of the official NHL schedule — which expands to 84 regular-season games this season for the first time since 1994.
Around the NHL, 7:30 local start times have become gradually less common, with the Kings, Sharks and Panthers among the teams shifting earlier in recent seasons, and the Hawks have now joined the movement.
Last season, 22 of 26 Hawks home games on weeknights (excluding holidays) started at 7:30 or later. This season, 19 of 23 weeknight games (excluding holidays) will start at 7:00 or earlier. National TV games, the timing of which are set by the league, account for most of the exceptions.
And Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 of 19 games are full-fledged matinees — up from just three last season — and none are late starts.
The Hawks will open the season on the road for the ninth consecutive year, although they’ll do it in September for the first time, with the extended season prompting an earlier start.
They’ll visit the Golden Knights during ESPN’s opening-night tripleheader on Sept. 29, then continue a three-game road trip with visits to the Mammoth and Sabres.
They’ll host the Blues in their home opener Oct. 6, then enjoy a seven-game home stand from Oct. 10-27. (They’ll have another seven-game home stand from Feb. 17 to Mar. 1.)
Other marquee home games include a Black Friday (Nov. 27) matinee against the Rangers and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) matinee against the Bruins.
In between those 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.