With a reduced schedule pitting them against teams in a temporarily realigned division, the Chicago Blackhawks are set to open the 2021 season on the road Jan. 13 against the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
The NHL schedule released Wednesday has Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Co. making their first United Center appearance since mid-March on Jan. 22 against the Detroit Red Wings, the first of eight regular-season matchups between the two teams.
One positive effect of the pandemic-influenced scheduling might be to reinvigorate the long-standing, once-thriving Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry, which took a hit when the NHL placed the teams in separate conferences with its 2013-14 realignment.
But it is unknown if, when or how fans will be allowed to attend games at the United Center.
“The health and safety of our fans, players and staff remains our top priority, and after careful consideration in collaboration with the NHL, city and state officials, the Blackhawks will not be hosting fans in the United Center for the beginning of the 2020-21 NHL season,” the team said in a statement.
“We will continue working with the league, city and state officials to evaluate conditions to determine if there is a timeline that would allow for fans later this season.”
The 2021 schedule (there will be no games in 2020) is just 56 games for each team, down from the regular 82 games, and there are four ad hoc divisions, including one made up solely of Canadian teams.
Teams will play only divisional opponents through the second round of the playoffs in an effort to adapt to challenges COVID-19 presents.
With the Blackhawks, Red Wings and Lightning in what has been branded the Central Division will be the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators.
Teams in the three U.S. divisions will play each other eight times. The Canadian teams will face one another nine or 10 times.
Games will be played in teams’ respective home arenas or, as needed, neutral sites, and only among teams in the same divisions as the goal is to reduce team travel and abide by U.S.-Canadian border restrictions.
To that end, the Blackhawks’ schedule has them mostly playing opponents in two successive games, either at home or on the road.
The exceptions, presumably at least in part due to television considerations, have the Blackhawks playing host to the Lightning for three games in a row between March 3 and 7, then for just a single game at the United Center on April 27.
Barring events disrupting the schedule, the Blackhawks are supposed to conclude the regular season May 8 against the visiting Stars.
The top four teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs, which will remain a traditional 16-team, seven-game series format.
Intradivisional play in the first two rounds, beginning with No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs No. 3, will produce a semifinalist from each division. Those remaining four will be seeded first through fourth based on regular-season points totals.
But, again, that presumes the NHL regular season goes smoothly.
The league has said it hopes to return to regular alignment and scheduling with the 2021-22 season.
Here’s the Blackhawks just-announced slate:
Wed., Jan. 13, at Tampa Bay Lightning
Fri., Jan. 15, at Tampa Bay Lightning
Sun., Jan. 17, at Florida Panthers
Tues., Jan. 19, at Florida Panthers
Fri., Jan. 22, vs. Detroit Red Wings
Sun., Jan. 24, vs. Detroit Red Wings
Tues., Jan. 26, at Nashville Predators
Wed., Jan. 27, at Nashville Predators
Fri., Jan. 29, vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Sun., Jan. 31, vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Tue., Feb. 2, vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Thurs., Feb. 4, vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Sun., Feb. 7, at Dallas Stars
Tues., Feb. 9 at Dallas Stars
Thurs., Feb. 11, vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Sat. Feb. 13, vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Mon., Feb. 15., at Detroit Red Wings
Wed., Feb. 17, at Detroit Red Wings
Fri., Feb. 19, at Carolina Hurricanes
Sat., Feb. 23, at Carolina Hurricanes
Tues., Feb. 23, at Columbus Blue Jackets
Thurs., Feb. 25, at Columbus Blue Jackets
Sat., Feb. 27, vs. Detroit Red Wings
Sun., Feb. 28, vs. Detroit Red Wings
Wed., March 3, vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Fri., March 5, vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Sun., March 7, vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Tues., March 9, at Dallas Stars
Thurs., March 11, at Dallas Stars
Sat., March 13, at Florida Panthers
Mon., March 15, at Florida Panthers
Thurs., March 18, at Tampa Bay Lightning
Sat., March 20, at Tampa Bay Lightning
Tues., March 23, vs. Florida Panthers
Thurs., March 25, vs. Florida Panthers
Sat., March 27, vs. Nashville Predators
Sun., March 28, vs. Nashville Predators
Tues., March 30, vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Thurs., April 1, vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Sat., April 3, at Nashville Predators
Sun., April 4, at Nashville Predators
Tues., April 6, vs. Dallas Stars
Thurs., April 8, vs. Dallas Stars
Sat., April 10, at Columbus Blue Jackets
Mon., April 12, at Columbus Blue Jackets
Thurs., April 15, at Detroit Red Wings
Sat., April 17, at Detroit Red Wings
Wed., April 21, vs. Nashville Predators
Fri., April 23, vs. Nashville Predators
Tues., April 27, vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Thurs., April 28, vs. Florida Panthers
Sat., May 1, vs. Florida Panthers
Mon., May 3, at Carolina Hurricanes
Tues., May 4, at Carolina Hurricanes
Thurs., May 6, vs. Dallas Stars
Sat., May 8, vs. Dallas Stars
