The Blackhawks’ road trip has already turned ugly, and now the calendar drops them into Buffalo for another tough test. Chicago heads into Saturday night still looking for its first win of the 2026-27 season after back-to-back blowouts in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, with Jeff Blashill’s team trying to steady itself against a Sabres club playing in its home opener.
It’s the third straight game for Chicago against a team that reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, and the third straight time the opponent gets the extra juice of opening night at home. For a team that has looked disjointed and overwhelmed through two games, that’s a rough setup.
A better sense of the lineup and the goalie situation should come after the morning skate in Buffalo, when Chicago Hockey Now is expected to release its Game Day Preview for KeyBank Center.
The Blackhawks also got more attention Friday for Bowen Byram, who was named a top breakout candidate and one of the league’s most intriguing players this season. Around the prospect pipeline, there were a few encouraging performances as well.
Ryan Roobroeck hit a major milestone in Guelph’s 4-2 win, scoring his third goal of the season and collecting his 200th career OHL point. He added an assist for a two-point night, and the Storm have now won three in a row.
In Providence’s exhibition against Stonehill, Julius Sumpf scored shorthanded in a 4-3 shootout win. He centered the Friars’ second line, while John Mustard skated on the top line at left wing and picked up a primary assist.
Mason West also chipped in during Michigan State’s exhibition game against Boston College, lining up on the third line at right wing and scoring the empty-netter in a 4-2 win.
Back in Chicago, the bigger concern remains what happened in Utah. The Blackhawks were routed 6-0 by the Mammoth on Thursday, a game that featured soft defensive coverage, rough passing, and almost no cohesion. The first two games of the season have done little to calm anyone’s nerves.
There’s no real sample size with Connor Bedard out of the lineup, but the early numbers have still been bleak. The top pairing of Alex Vlasic and Bowen Byram has struggled badly in its first two games together, and with the team leaking chances at the back, Kevin Korchinski’s season debut is now a question worth asking.
Chicago’s AHL affiliate also moved into opening weekend, with the Rockford IceHogs announcing a 26-player roster on Friday. Rockford opens its 2026-27 regular season tonight against the Milwaukee Admirals at the BMO Center.
Elsewhere around the league, Detroit fans let Dylan Larkin hear it during the Red Wings’ home opener, which ended in a 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers. The building turned hostile quickly, with “SELL THE TEAM” chants breaking out five minutes into the game.
In Boston, James Hagens scored his first NHL goal in a 4-3 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets. JJ Peterka delivered the winner for his second goal in as many games.
The San Jose Sharks’ 2026 No. 2 overall pick Ivar Stenberg also made news, telling reporters he’s living with Joe Thornton this season after making the NHL roster out of camp.
Washington got a big debut from Alex Tuch, who scored twice in a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Alexander Ovechkin assisted on Tuch’s first goal, and Pierre-Luc Dubois had helpers on both.
Dallas, meanwhile, saw Brandon Carlo get tossed for a knee-on-knee hit on Roope Hintz in the third period of the Blues’ 4-0 win. Hintz returned after a short absence, while Carlo’s debut for St. Louis ended early.
And in New Jersey, Devils defenseman Seamus Casey will miss about 8-10 weeks after successful knee surgery.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Face Early Pressure As Defense Gets Shaken Up Again
The Blackhawks reach the final stop of their season-opening three-game road trip in Buffalo with the blue line already getting a different look than the one they planned to open with. Chicago is coming off a loss and now has to navigate KeyBank Center without Bowen Byram, while the Sabres are also trying to bounce back and pick up their first home win of the season.
Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro are set to make their season debuts, adding another layer of change to a defense group that is still sorting itself out this early in the schedule. Sam Rinzel will be scratched, which only underscores how quickly the Blackhawks are being forced to adjust while facing a Buffalo team eager to capitalize on home ice. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Prospect Pipeline Takes Shape With A Telling Rockford Roster
The Rockford IceHogs have put their opening roster on the board for the 2026-27 season, offering an early glimpse at how the Chicago Blackhawks prospect pipeline is coming together at the AHL level. Their season opens Oct. 3 against the Milwaukee Admirals, and the group includes a mix of returning veterans along with players signed or assigned from Chicago, giving head coach Jared Nightingale a chance to reset after last seasons uneven finish.
What stands out most is the shape of the roster, especially with changes in the defense and goaltending groups that suggest Rockford is trying to become steadier from the back end forward. For the Blackhawks, that matters just as much as the results in the standings, because this is where younger players are supposed to learn how to handle a heavier workload and prove they can be part of the next wave. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Depth Help Is Getting Closer At Just The Right Time
Colorado is starting to get healthier at the right time, with forwards Zachary LHeureux and Logan OConnor both back on the practice ice and trending toward returns soon. Neither will suit up for the next game, but their presence at practice is still a meaningful sign for a team that has been waiting on depth help after lower-body injuries slowed both players, one dating back to preseason and the other carrying over from last season.
For Chicago, the latest Avalanche update comes with its own wrinkle as Bowen Byram will miss a game for a family matter, leaving the Blackhawks a little thinner on the blue line for the moment. The opening could matter in a hurry if Colorados reinforcements keep moving closer, especially with a busy stretch ahead and little margin for a team trying to manage absences while keeping pace. [Read more 🡒]