St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks | Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT / 8:00 PM ET | United Center, Chicago | CHSN, ESPN+, WGN-720 AM
We have waited a long time for this one. The Blackhawks start the 2026-27 season 0-3, but tonight is the 100th home opener in franchise history, and it comes with the most emotional storyline I can remember in years: Patrick Kane walks back into the United Center for the first time since February 21, 2023. That’s 1,324 days.
The record is ugly. The trend underneath it is less ugly than the record suggests. Here is what I’m watching.
Game Info: Blues at Blackhawks
- Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
- Puck drop: 7:00 PM CT / 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois (the franchise’s 100th home opener)
- Broadcast: CHSN (in-market), ESPN+ (out-of-market), WGN-720 AM (radio)
- Records: Blackhawks 0-3-0; Blues 1-1-0
- Odds: Close to a coin flip, with the Blues around -115 and the Blackhawks around -105; Blues -1.5 on the puck line; total around 5.5
Kane’s Return to the United Center
Kane now gets his first regular-season game at the United Center since February 21, 2023. His numbers against this opponent in this building are absurd: 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists) in 36 career home games against the Blues.
I don’t want to oversell the sentiment, because emotion doesn’t win hockey games. But a building that has waited more than three years to cheer this player is going to be loud, and loud buildings have historically pushed this franchise’s home openers in the right direction: the Blackhawks are 3-2-0 all-time in home openers against St. Louis.
Why 0-3 Isn’t the Whole Story
Let me be straight about the first two games: a 5-2 loss in Vegas and a 6-0 loss in Utah were poor, and Jeff Blashill said as much afterward. But Saturday’s 4-3 loss in Buffalo was a different kind of game. Ryan Donato, Tyler Bertuzzi and Oliver Moore scored, Spencer Knight made 24 saves, and the team gave up a tying goal and a go-ahead goal in the third period, the latter on 4-on-4 play. Blashill’s own read: “I thought our compete and our kind of swagger was way better.”
Anton Frondell had two assists, matching his career high, and Teuvo Teravainen has a three-game point streak in home openers. The scoring is arriving. What isn’t arriving yet is the defensive structure that kept us out of trouble in the second half of last season.
The Injury Picture
- Connor Bedard is still recovering from shoulder surgery. He is skating non-contact and has not been cleared for contact. Reports on his return window range from November to December, so I’m not putting a date on it.
- Andrew Mangiapane hurt his lower body in Vegas and is week-to-week.
- Bowen Byram missed the Buffalo game for a family matter (he and his wife welcomed twin girls) and is back at practice. He’s listed day-to-day.
That’s a lot of offensive talent missing, which makes Kane and the young forwards more important than usual.
What the Blues Bring
St. Louis is 1-1, opening with a 4-0 win over Dallas and then getting beaten 6-1 by Colorado. That’s a normal first week for a team still finding itself. Jordan Binnington started Saturday and made 30 saves on 36 shots, so Joel Hofer is the projected starter tonight. The Blues are missing Alexey Toropchenko (upper body, re-evaluation in about six weeks), Logan Mailloux (hand) and Tyler Tucker (knee).
Robert Thomas centers the top line with Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud, and he’s still waiting on his first point of the season. Jim Montgomery has said that line needs to produce more, which tells you where the Blues’ pressure is coming from.
The history here is lopsided toward chaos. The Blackhawks beat St. Louis 8-3 on the road and 7-3 at home last season, but the Blues have scored at least three goals in nine straight meetings with Chicago, outscoring us 41-35 over those games. Expect goals on both ends.
What Actually Decides Tonight
Three things. First, whether Chicago can hold its structure for 60 minutes after giving up two third-period goals in Buffalo. Second, whether Knight, who has been solid, gets help in front of him against a Blues team that has scored three or more in nine straight against us. Third, whether the early power play goes our way, because a home crowd and a first goal can change the temperature of a game very fast.
I want to pick Chicago. The market says this is even, the Blues are missing a few pieces, and the building will be rocking. But a team that is 0-3 and giving up goals in bunches has to prove it before I trust it. I think we get the emotional boost, a Kane point and a better effort than last week, and still end up one goal short.
My Final Score Prediction: St. Louis Blues 4, Chicago Blackhawks 3
The post Blackhawks vs. Blues Prediction October 6th: Kane Comes Home, a 0-3 Start Meets the 100th Home Opener appeared first on UrbanMatter.
