Our Chicago Blackhawks vs Vegas Golden Knights preview covers the odds, puck line, total, puck drop time, TV channel and where to watch for NHL Opening Night on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The Chicago Blackhawks (29-39-14 in 2025-26) visit the Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Puck drop is 10:30 PM ET (7:30 PM PT). TV: ESPN (U.S.) / TVA Sports 2 (Canada).

Opening Night storyline: The Golden Knights play for the first time since losing Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, and Patrick Kane plays his first game back with the Blackhawks. Vegas will be the 32nd different franchise Chicago has faced in a season opener, the most of any team (NHL.com). DraftKings lists Vegas at -265 and Chicago at +215, with the total at 5.5.

Chicago Blackhawks vs Vegas Golden Knights Odds, Puck Line & Game Info

Odds via DraftKings (through ESPN), cross-checked on Action Network, as of Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, ~5:30 PM PT. Lines move, so check your sportsbook before puck drop. Starting goalies were not confirmed at research time.

Chicago Blackhawks Preview: Last Season, Offseason & Goalies

2025-26 recap: Chicago went 29-39-14 (72 points), last in the Central Division. The Blackhawks ranked 30th in scoring (2.56 goals per game) and 27th in goals allowed (3.29). Connor Bedard led the team with 75 points (30 goals, 45 assists) in 69 games.

Offseason moves: Patrick Kane came home on a two-year, $16 million contract after 57 points with Detroit. Chicago traded the No. 4 pick to Buffalo for defenseman Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway, then signed Byram to a six-year extension. Ian Cole and Cole Smith also signed. Bedard signed a five-year, $75 million extension, but he had left shoulder surgery on July 8. Ilya Mikheyev (Tampa Bay) and Sam Lafferty (Florida) left, and Matt Grzelcyk is unsigned.

Key players & coach: Tyler Bertuzzi (32 goals), Frank Nazar, KHL import Roman Kantserov (36 goals with Magnitogorsk), 2025 No. 3 pick Anton Frondell, Teuvo Teravainen and Alex Vlasic are key pieces. Jeff Blashill is in his second season as coach.

Goalies: Spencer Knight went 19-25-11 with a 2.82 GAA, .902 save percentage and three shutouts in 55 games. Arvid Soderblom is the projected backup.

Injuries: Bedard (shoulder) is out and is expected back in November (NHL.com, ESPN).

Vegas Golden Knights Preview: Western Conference Champions

2025-26 recap: Vegas went 39-26-17 (95 points) to win the Pacific Division. With eight games left, John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy as coach, and the Golden Knights closed 7-0-1 before winning the West. They lost the Stanley Cup Final to Carolina in six games, dropping the last three. Mitch Marner led the playoffs with 29 points, and Brett Howden led with 14 goals.

Offseason moves: Ryan Craig, previously the coach of AHL Henderson, replaced Tortorella. Top goal-scorer Pavel Dorofeyev was traded to the Rangers, and Keegan Kolesar, Kaedan Korczak, Akira Schmid and Colton Sissons also left. Vegas added Victor Olofsson, Parker Wotherspoon and Marc Gatcomb, and extended Braeden Bowman.

Key players: Jack Eichel, Marner, captain Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl, William Karlsson, Ivan Barbashev, Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson. Stone and Karlsson are healthy after missing 22 and 68 games last season.

Goalies: Carter Hart took the net after the coaching change and started in the Final. Adin Hill went 10-9-6 with a 3.04 GAA last season. Craig has said both will play early this season.

Injuries: Raphael Lavoie (undisclosed) is day-to-day. Lukas Cormier (undisclosed) is out (ESPN).

How to Watch Chicago Blackhawks vs Vegas Golden Knights

Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Puck drop: 10:30 PM ET (7:30 PM PT)
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nev.
TV: ESPN and the ESPN app in the U.S. (Mike Monaco, Kevin Weekes and Stormy Buonantony on the call). TVA Sports 2 in Canada, per NHL.com.

Check the puck line, moneyline and total above against your sportsbook before the September 29, 2026 puck drop, and look for confirmed starting goalies closer to game time.