BLOG: Blackhawks Refreshed, Ready to Open Home Schedule

TIME: 7:30 PM
TV: NBCSCH | RADIO:WGN-720-AM | STREAM: MyTeamsApp (In Market) & ESPN+ (Out of Market)
For the first time since 2019, the Blackhawks will walk the red carpet and welcome back fans as they get ready to take on the Detroit Red Wings in their home opener for the 2022-23 season.
The team is returning from a three-game road trip where they ended up going 1-2-0. For both returning and new players, the first home game allows the team to start off fresh and play in front of their fans.

"Obviously, it's always exciting when you first game at home, that means something," Patrick Kane said. "It'll be good to get out there and hopefully have a good showing."
After their week-long trip to the west coast, the team had a total of five days before opening night at the United Center. Jonathan Toews hopes the team can build off the rest and energy within the building.
With the next seven out of eight games being played at home next week, Toews wants to set the standard early of being ready to work and make the United Center a challenging rink to play at once again.
"I think it's one of those things if you can establish a good feeling and standard for how we want to play and everyone shows up prepared to play at home," Toews said. "I think games like this one are big ones to start building that confidence."
Another thing that Toews hopes the team will become comfortable with his players finding their role within the system.
"It's just a matter of time where guys get comfortable with each other understand what's everyone's role is," Toews said. "If we defend well and we don't give up too much you're going get your chances."

One of the changes to the lineups include the return of Jake McCabe. The Blackhawks activated the veteran defenseman off IR this morning after missing a few games due to a neck injury.
For head coach Luke Richardson, he hopes that McCabe's presence will be a calmness during difficult situations within the defensive zone.
"He just seems calm, even in practice when there's chaos situations," Richardson said. "Detroit's a really good skating team, so we expect to have some chaos, so I think a veteran guy is always going be helpful."
The Red Wings skating line that will bring some new challenges against the Blackhawks is the third line made up of players standing at an average of 6-foot-6, 230 pounds.
Richardson knows they will cause some trouble for starting goaltender Petr Mrazek in front of the net. His game plan to defend that line is to track down the puck and keep the speed up within the neutral zone.
"So defensively, if we can interrupt that, and make sure that we don't have a lot of D-zone time where we're chasing tails and running around there, that's going to be huge, especially against a line like that," Richardson said.