Looks like the Chicago Blackhawks have caught a little bit of a break

The Chicago Blackhawks schedule in 2021 will not be very forgiving thanks to the back to back games the team will be playing against their opponents.

Figuring out key matchups to exploit opponents might be the only way the Blackhawks will win some games this coming season. So seeing one key member of the Tampa Bay Lightning fall to an injury might make things easier.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov is going to miss the regular season due to hip surgery. That means Tampa will be without their star forward a year removed from putting up 128 points and winning the Hart, Ted Lindsay, and Art Ross trophies all in one season.

Now at no time do you want to see someone get hurt, which is true for Kucherov with the Lightning. However, now Tampa has nine million in cap space to work with during the regular season and can add him back to their lineup come the postseason.

When every game is against the same opponent, seeing the Lightning lose a big piece to their team might help level the playing field. This Blackhawks schedule does showcase some fun stretches of tough games for the team.

Every team in the league will be going through it this season. After spending two to four games at home, they will stretch out on the road for six games or so. This is a great way to introduce a baseball style of scheduling to the NHL this season with more games against the same opponent in a row.

When looking at the Blackhawks schedule, what do you think will be the toughest part of this team? Personally, I think the start of the season with four games on the road might be challenging for this team, but when looking at the schedule as a whole, it certainly does look like a fun time!