Vegas Golden Knights vs Chicago Blackhawks prediction
Prediction traders favor Vegas at 75% implied probability, compared with Chicago’s 36%. With Connor Bedard sidelined, the Blackhawks need their reshaped attack to challenge last season’s Stanley Cup finalist.
Hockey
By Ekaterina Drozdovica
The Chicago Blackhawks begin their regular season against the Vegas Golden Knights on September 29 with a difficult assignment: finding enough offense while Connor Bedard recovers from shoulder surgery. For Vegas, a home opener offers the chance to turn the disappointment of last season’s Stanley Cup Final into a fresh start.
The Golden Knights vs Blackhawks prediction favors the hosts. Still, both teams have scoring roles to fill, and Chicago’s new combinations could make this more interesting than the gap in market probabilities suggests.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
When is the Golden Knights vs Blackhawks game?
The teams open their regular NHL seasons in Las Vegas, with ESPN broadcasting the September 29 game. Their later schedule includes two later meetings in Chicago.
Date
Matchup
City
Start time (ET)
September 29, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights
Las Vegas
10:30 p.m.
December 29, 2026
Vegas Golden Knights at Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago
8 p.m.
January 24, 2027
Vegas Golden Knights at Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago
7 p.m.
Those later meetings could feature different lineups as injured players return. The prediction below is for September 29.
What is the Vegas Golden Knights vs Chicago Blackhawks prediction?
Prediction traders favor the Vegas Golden Knights to win, with a 75% implied probability on OG.com, compared with 36% for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Market data as of September 25, 2026. For the latest market probabilities, check theOG.com platform.
Why does Vegas have the edge?
Chicago’s biggest attacking threat remains unavailable. Despite Bedard progressing to light slap shots, coach Jeff Blashill says he isn’t close to returning to team practice. That leaves the Blackhawks trying to replace his creativity against last season’s Western Conference champion.
Vegas also retains much of the roster that reached the Stanley Cup Final. That continuity, plus home ice, offers a reasonable explanation for traders’ preference.
The same Vegas attack has lost Pavel Dorofeyev, who was traded to the Rangers after leading the team in goals. Chicago will hope the Golden Knights need time to replace his finishing, especially on the power play. A close game would put more pressure on Vegas to turn possession into goals.
Golden Knights vs Blackhawks scores and head-to-head
Vegas won the last head-to-head meeting, while the teams’ latest preseason games produced very different scorelines.
March 14, 2026
Vegas Golden Knights vs Chicago Blackhawks
Vegas won 4–0
Regular season
September 24, 2026
Vegas Golden Knights vs Utah Mammoth
Vegas won 5–4 in overtime
Preseason
September 24, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks vs St. Louis Blues
St. Louis won 1–0
Preseason
Vegas recovered from a two-goal deficit against Utah, showing it could chase a game successfully. Chicago’s shutout loss underlined the importance of finding offense, although preseason lineups limit how much either result tells us about the opener.
Where do the Golden Knights and Blackhawks stand this season?
Both teams are 0–0–0 as of September 25, with the regular season still to begin. Last season’s final standings show the difference in their starting points: Vegas finished 39–26–17 with 95 points, while Chicago went 29–39–14 for 72 points and missed the playoffs.
The Blackhawks need their summer changes to translate into more competitive hockey. Vegas faces a different test: carrying its postseason success into a steadier regular season. Opening night awards the same points to either team, but would answer very different questions about their progress.
Golden Knights vs Blackhawks lineup, team news, injuries
Chicago is reshaping its attack around Bedard’s absence, while Vegas is testing combinations after losing Dorofeyev. The final lineups and starting goalies remain unconfirmed.
Chicago Blackhawks: Kane and Nazar have more to carry
Patrick Kane, Frank Nazar and Roman Kantserov are the projected top line, having been grouped for the September 24 preseason game. Their ability to create chances together matters immediately with Bedard out.
Jordan Greenway is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. If he misses the opener, Landon Slaggert is a possible replacement alongside Ryan Greene and Cole Smith, according to Chicago Hockey Now’s injury update.
Vegas Golden Knights: Forward combinations are still taking shape
Trevor Connelly received shifts alongside Jack Eichel and Mark Stone against Utah. Brett Howden also moved between combinations before finishing with William Karlsson and Mitch Marner.
Those experiments leave room for changes before Tuesday. Adin Hill and Carter Hart are competing for the net; neither should be treated as the confirmed opening-night starter yet.
What could decide Golden Knights vs Blackhawks?
Chicago needs enough attacking possession to keep Vegas from controlling every shift. For the Golden Knights, the question is whether their adjusted forward lines can convert pressure into a lead.
Can Chicago’s projected first line escape Vegas’s pressure?
Kane and Nazar need clean passes out of their own end to attack with support. If Chicago repeatedly chips the puck away just to change players, its most dangerous forwards could spend too much of the evening defending.
The Blackhawks don’t need to match every Vegas attack. They do need to make their own possessions last long enough to create more than an isolated shot.
Can Vegas replace Dorofeyev on the power play?
Dorofeyev’s departure changes a unit that relied on his finishing. Chicago should make Vegas work for its chances at even strength, where five defenders can help protect the middle.
For Vegas, an early power-play goal would ease the pressure on its new combinations. Chicago’s route to an upset looks more plausible if it stays disciplined, keeps the score close and gives its top line opportunities to attack before Vegas gets organized.
FAQs about Golden Knights vs Blackhawks
When do the Vegas Golden Knights and Chicago Blackhawks play next?
They meet September 29, 2026, in Las Vegas at 10:30 p.m. ET. Vegas then visits Chicago on December 29.
Is Vegas Golden Knights vs Chicago Blackhawks a preseason game?
No. September 29 is the regular-season opener for both teams.
Will Connor Bedard play against the Vegas Golden Knights?
He is expected to miss the opener while recovering from shoulder surgery. Blashill’s latest update says he isn’t close to team practice.
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