The Chicago Blackhawks will open the 2006-07 National Hockey League season against their Central Division counterpart in Nashville on Thursday, October 5th at 7:00 pm CT. The Blackhawks will then return home to open their home schedule against another Central Division opponent, the Columbus Blue Jackets, on Saturday, October 7 at 7:30 pm at the United Center.

This season marks the 81st year (80th season) in Chicago Blackhawks history and the 40th time the club will open on the road. The Blackhawks have posted a 14-19-6 all-time record in season openers on the road.

An enhanced family friendly schedule once again places the focus on Friday, Saturday and Sunday home games. This season's schedule features 23 home games on weekend dates (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The Blackhawks will feature 10 home games on Friday nights, 3 home games on Saturday night and 10 home games on Sundays (4 evening games and 6 matinee games). The team will also host 4 Tuesday evening games, 7 on Wednesday nights, 7 on Thursday nights with no Monday games.

The NHL schedule will continue to place a strong emphasis on divisional play, each Central Division team will visit the United Center four times; Detroit (11/2, 12/14, 2/27, 4/5), St. Louis (10/21, 11/10, 12/1, 2/25), Columbus (10/7, 11/12, 1/16, 3/30) and Nashville (10/12, 12/20, 1/5, 1/26). The Blackhawks will also travel to each divisional opponent four times.

The Blackhawks will play each of the remaining 10 teams in the Western Conference four times each (two at home and two on the road). With regards to the Eastern Conference, the Blackhawks will play host to the teams in the Northeast Division (Boston 12/29, Buffalo 1/10, Montreal 10/18, Ottawa 3/4, Toronto 12/22). The Blackhawks will travel to their Atlantic Division opponents this season for one game each and will not face the teams in the Southeast Division this season.

Other notes of interest in the 2006-07 schedule:

• The Blackhawk will play host to four of the "Original Six" teams at the United Center (Boston 12/29, Montreal 10/18, Toronto 12/22 and Detroit 11/2, 12/14, 2/27, 4/5). The New York Rangers will be the only "Original Six" team not playing at the United Center this season as the Blackhawks visit the Rangers (2/18).
• 17 sets of back-to-back games this season
• 1 seven-game road trip, 2 five-game road trips, 1 three-game road trip, 5 two-game road trips and 11 one-game road trips
• Day-by-day breakdown:
  • Monday: 0 home games, 2 road games
  • Tuesday: 4 home games, 8 road games
  • Wednesday: 7 home games, 4 road games
  • Thursday: 7 home games, 6 road games
  • Friday: 10 home games, 6 road games
  • Saturday: 3 home games, 10 road games
  • Sunday: 10 home games (4 evening games and 6 matinee game), 5 road games
  • Month-by-month overall break down:
  • October: 12 games (6 home games/ 6 road games)
  • November: 10 games (4 home games/ 6 road games)
  • December: 16 games (9 home games/ 7 road games)
  • January: 12 games (8 home games/ 4 road games)
  • February: 13 games (4 home games/ 9 road games)
  • March: 14 games (8 home games/ 6 road games)
  • April: 5 games (2 home games/ 3 road games)
  • The NHL All-Star Break will be January 21-25 with the NHL All-Star Game being played on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 in Dallas
  • The NHL Playoffs will begin on April 11 and conclude no later than June 11