The Blackhawks come home looking for answers after a rough start to the season, and the week ahead brings a little bit of everything: a rivalry opener, another road test, and a matchup with the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Chicago wrapped up its season-opening trip at 0-3-0, but Saturday night’s 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at least looked more competitive than the two games before it. The effort level was better, and the Blackhawks stayed in the fight longer.
One of the biggest reasons for the uptick was a lineup shakeup on defense. Head coach Jeff Blashill said after the blowout loss to the Utah Mammoth that he would consider giving Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro a look against Buffalo. Bowen Byram was out because of a family matter, and Sam Rinzel was a healthy scratch, which opened the door for both players.
Blashill said he preferred Del Mastro’s game, but Korchinski still flashed a little of what Chicago has been waiting to see. He had a strong cut to the net with about seven minutes left in the first period, and while the puck rolled off his stick, the moment stood out on a night when the Hawks needed energy from the blue line.
“I thought Delly had a good game. I thought Delly played with some swagger out there.
Nobody’s perfect, but I thought he had a good game,” Blashill said (from ‘Kevin Korchinski is growing confidence, but Jeff Blashill’s trust is a work in progress,’ New York Times, Oct. 3, 2026).
Blashill also said, “I thought our compete and swagger was way better,” Blashill said. “That’s more the standard that we want to play with.
Obviously you’re going to make mistakes, and you want to learn and grow. That’s what we’ll focus on” (from ‘Blackhawks’ disastrous opening trip ends with late loss to Sabres,’ Chicago Sun Times, Oct.
3, 2026).
Korchinski, who signed a two-year, $2.65 million contract on Aug. 29, is in what feels like a real prove-it stretch this season. The skill is there. The question is whether he can put it together consistently.
The injury picture still matters too, especially on the forward side. Andrew Mangiapane suffered a lower-body injury before the season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights and remains day-to-day.
The bigger name to watch is Connor Bedard. He’s been skating more since shoulder surgery in early July, and Frank Seravalli reported that Chicago is now in the “ three-week window ” for Bedard to return. There’s also been video circulating of Bedard taking light slap shots, which only adds to the sense that he’s moving in the right direction.
With the offense sputtering, the Blackhawks clearly need him back. Based on the rehab progress being shown publicly, an early November return looks possible, maybe even sooner.
Here’s the schedule on deck for Chicago this week:
Tues., Oct. 6 vs. St.
Louis Blues at United Center, 7:00 P.M. CDT
Tues., Oct. 8 at New York Islanders at UBS Arena, 6:30 P.M. CDT
Sat., Oct. 10 vs. Carolina Hurricanes at United Center, 6:00 P.M.
CDT
The home opener comes against the Blues, and it will be the first home game as a Hawk for Patrick Kane since he was traded to the New York Rangers on Feb. 28, 2023. Whatever the reaction is when his name is announced, it figures to be loud.
Then comes a Saturday test against Carolina, a meeting with the defending champions that should tell Chicago plenty about where it stands right now.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Face An Early Test In Their Push Toward 90 Points
The Blackhawks spent the offseason trying to change the look of the roster, adding Bowen Byram, bringing Patrick Kane back into the mix and locking in Connor Bedard on a contract extension. It was the kind of summer that gave the organization a more ambitious tone, especially with expectations building around a push toward 90 points and a step forward in the standings.
For now, though, the early challenge is doing enough offense without Bedard, who remains sidelined after offseason shoulder surgery. Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton recently weighed in on the Blackhawks chances to hit that benchmark, and the discussion naturally turned to where the next wave of production might come from. Hutton also flagged Spencer Knight as a player who could tilt the season one way or the other, which is the sort of swing factor Chicago cannot afford to overlook. [Read more 🡒]
Former Blackhawks Enforcer Remembered For A Rugged NHL Career
Lyle Odeleins name still carries weight for anyone who appreciated old-school NHL grit, even beyond the teams he skated for. The former defenseman built a 16-season career on toughness and reliability, becoming one of the leagues more recognizable rugged blueliners while helping the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup in 1993.
Odelein also spent part of his career with Chicago, fitting the kind of hard-edged style that Blackhawks fans have long respected. Over 1,056 games, he put up 50 goals and 252 points, but the number that best captures his reputation is the one tied to his physical presence, a total that underscored just how hard he played every night. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Depth Help Is Getting Closer At Just The Right Time
The Avalanche are starting to get healthier at a useful point in the schedule, with forwards Zachary LHeureux and Logan OConnor both back on the ice with the team and trending toward returns soon. Neither is ready for the upcoming game, but their participation in practice is a positive sign after lower-body injuries kept them out dating back to preseason for one player and the previous season for the other.
For the Blackhawks, there is also a small roster wrinkle worth watching after Bowen Byram was set to miss a game because of a family matter. Chicago has already leaned on him early, and any absence at this stage forces the club to adjust its blue line on the fly, even if it is only for a night. [Read more 🡒]