5 Big Games to Watch as a Chicago Blackhawks Fan in 2019-20

Is it October yet? Here are 5 games you don’t want to miss.

I am counting down the days until the Chicago Blackhawks take the ice once again. An 82 game season is sure to have a lot of great games for Blackhawks fans to watch.

With so much downtime until preseason starts, let’s take a look at 5 games Blackhawks’ fans should have circled on the calendar, going into the 2019-20 season.

5. December 2nd, 2019 – St. Louis Blues

The defending Stanley Cup champs, St. Louis Blues, come to town. It’s been a long offseason for Blackhawks fans.

After watching their team miss the playoffs for the second year in a row, ‘Hawks fans watched as St. Louis won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Jonathan Toews had this to say about St. Louis winning, courtesy of Scott Powers –

The Blackhawks don’t host St. Louis until December 2nd in what will be a must win game for the ‘Hawks.

Chicago will want to see how they stack up against playoff level competition, and unfortunately, St. Louis is “playoff level”.

I’m sure everyone in the United Center will want to beat St. Louis after seeing them win their first cup in franchise history. At least we can still say we won 6, right Chicago?

4. October 22nd, 2019 – Breaking the Streak

The Vegas Golden Knights are golden against the Chicago Blackhawks, literally speaking. Vegas has been in the National Hockey League for two full seasons now, and have never lost to the Blackhawks.

Chicago has beaten every NHL team at least once, except Vegas, so let’s get a win this season.

The first meeting against Vegas will come on October 22nd at home, with two more matchups later in the year on the road.

I don’t know what it is about Vegas that makes them so tough for Chicago to beat, but every streak must come to an end eventually though.

3. April 2nd, 2020 – Robin Lehner Returns to NY

Robin Lehner left the New York Islanders on strange terms. Lehner signed with the Blackhawks, as a free agent, after New York offered him a similar contract.

The last time someone left New York as a free agent this happened.

Obviously, John Tavares and Robin Lehner are two different players in the history of the New York Islanders.

Fans of the Islanders have nothing to really be upset with when it comes to Lehner, at least on the scale of the John Tavares’ night in New York.

Lehner, at this time of the season, will hopefully have either led, or helped push, the Blackhawks to a playoff spot.

2. November 7th, 2019 – Jeremy Colliton’s 1-Year Anniversary

November 6th, 2018 is a day Blackhawks’ fans should remember. That day was the day Joel Quenneville and the Blackhawks parted ways after almost a decade of dominance.

Jeremy Colliton came to Chicago having no prior NHL coaching experience, and November 7th, 2019 will be his 1-year anniversary game behind the bench in Chicago.

By then, we can look at the stats of what would have been a full season of Colliton coaching the ‘Hawks.

1. January 21st, 2020 – Coach Q Returns

Coach Quenneville spent almost a decade coaching the Chicago Blackhawks. He helped push the Blackhawks to 3 Stanley Cups and became the second-most winningest coach in NHL history; largely due to his time in Chicago.

The Blackhawks owe Joel Quenneville a lot of credit for their success from 2010-2017. Quenneville helped bring the Stanley Cup to Chicago 3 times, and he brought a Presidents’ Trophy as well.

The Chicago Blackhawks got a fresh start in Jeremy Colliton, but on January 21st, 2020, ‘Hawks fans in the United Center better honor the past with a warm welcome to Coach Q.

Put these dates into your calendars, the Blackhawks are going to have a lot of fun this season. Hopefully, with a ticket to the postseason as well.