The Chicago Blackhawks (1-3-0) look to build off their home-opening win as they hit the road to face the New York Islanders (1-2-0) at UBS Arena on Thursday. The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on CHSN.
After a putrid 0-3-0 road trip to start the 2026-27 regular season, the Blackhawks returned home for the first time and defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-2 at the United Center on Tuesday, finally breaking into the win column.
Anton Frondell and Frank Nazar each recorded one goal and one assist, while Spencer Knight stopped 26 of 28 shots to earn the win in net. Sam Rinzel and Cole Smith also scored, while eight different players tallied at least one point. The Blackhawks produced a much-needed full-team win in the home opener and look to keep building momentum in Long Island.
Thursday marks the first of two meetings between the Blackhawks and Islanders this season, with the finale set for Feb. 23 at the United Center.
Last time at UBS Arena, the Blackhawks defeated the Islanders 4-3 on Mar. 24 in Frondell’s NHL debut. Frondell picked up his first NHL point with an assist, Nazar had a two-point outing, and Nick Lardis had his first career three-point effort. Arvid Soderblom was also terrific in between the pipes, stopping 44 of 47 shots.
The Islanders have won one of their first three games this season, defeating the New Jersey Devils 6-0 in their home opener on Saturday. New York fell 2-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in their opening game on Sept. 30 and most recently lost 5-2 to the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
With Pete DeBoer in his first full season as head coach, the Islanders hope to become more consistently threatening offensively than in years past, while remaining a formidable defensive team. With recent first-round picks Matthew Schaefer and Victor Eklund now on the NHL roster together, New York has more offensive speed and upside. Ilya Sorokin remains the starting goaltender and the best hope for the Islanders to get back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.
Here’s everything else to know before the puck drops at 6:30 p.m. CT in Chicago.
Blackhawks Projected Lineup
Forward Lines
Oliver Moore — Frank Nazar — Patrick Kane
Tyler Bertuzzi — Anton Frondell — Roman Kantserov
Ryan Donato — Dominic Toninato — Nick Lardis
Cole Smith — Ryan Greene — Jordan Greenway
Defensive Pairings
Bowen Byram — Artyom Levshunov
Alex Vlasic — Ian Cole
Wyatt Kaiser — Sam Rinzel
Scratched
D — Ethan Del Mastro, D — Kevin Korchinski
Injured
F — Connor Bedard (shoulder), F — Andrew Mangiapane (lower body), F — Teuvo Teravainen (undisclosed)
***
The Blackhawks did not hold a morning skate in Long Island, so their official lineup remains to be determined. The forward lines and defensive pairings listed above are from Wednesday’s practice in Chicago.
In Tuesday’s win over the Blues, Teuvo Teravainen exited early due to injury and will not play against the Islanders. Teravainen is also doubtful for Saturday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
With Andrew Mangiapane placed on injured reserve, the Blackhawks used an open roster spot to recall Dominic Toninato from the Rockford IceHogs. Toninato will make his season debut on Thursday, as he’s expected to center the third line with Ryan Donato and Nick Lardis.
With Teravainen out, Roman Kantserov is expected to fill his spot at right wing on the second line with Anton Frondell and Tyler Bertuzzi. Oliver Moore is projected to play left wing on the top line with Frank Nazar and Patrick Kane.
The defensive pairings are expected to remain the same from Tuesday’s win in the home opener.
Islanders Projected Lineup
Forward Lines
Emil Heineman — Bo Horvat — Kyle Palmieri
Brayden Schenn — Calum Ritchie — Victor Eklund
Simon Holmstrom — Jean-Gabriel Pageau — Anthony Duclair
Ondrej Palat — Casey Cizikas — Matias Maccelli
Defensive Pairings
Logan Stanley — Matthew Schaefer
Adam Pelech — Ryan Pulock
Tony DeAngelo — Scott Mayfield
Scratched
D — Matthew Kessel, F — Kyle MacLean
Injured
F — Mathew Barzal (lower body), D — Alexander Romanov (knee)
***
Scott Mayfield will make his season debut on the third defensive pairing with Tony DeAngelo. Mayfield joins the lineup after Alexander Romanov suffered a potential season-ending knee injury in Tuesday’s loss to the Rangers.
Matthew Schaefer, the reigning Calder Trophy winner, will skate with Logan Stanley on the top defensive pairing for the first time this season.
New York’s four forward lines are expected to remain the same from Tuesday.
Projected Goaltending Matchup
Arvid Soderblom (0-1-0, 6.00 GAA, .812 Sv%, 0 SO)* vs. Ilya Sorokin (1-1-0, 1.02 GAA, .968 Sv%, 1 SO)
Soderblom is projected to make his second start of the season for the Blackhawks. The 27-year-old recorded the loss in his season debut against the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 1, allowing six goals on 32 shots. Soderblom is 2-3-0 with a 3.39 GAA and .905 Sv% in five career games against the Islanders.
Sorokin will make his third start of the season in net for the Islanders. The 31-year-old veteran is coming off a 37-save shutout win in his last appearance against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Sorokin is 4-2-1 with a 2.42 GAA and .905 Sv% in seven career games against Chicago.
2025-26 Results vs. Islanders
The Blackhawks are 12-6-2 over the last 20 meetings with the Islanders. Chicago and New York split the two meetings last season, with the road team winning each game.
12/30/25 — 3-2 L (SO), United Center
03/24/26 – 4-3 W, UBS Arena
2026-27 Team Stats & Leaders
Chicago Blackhawks:
Goals — Nine Tied (1)
Assists — Anton Frondell (3)
Points — Anton Frondell (4)
GF/GP — 2.25 (26th)
GA/GP — 4.25 (26th)
PP% — 11.1% (23rd)
PK% — 63.6% (29th)
FOW% — 42.1% (32nd)
New York Islanders:
Goals — Bo Horvat (2)
Assists — Brayden Schenn (3)
Points — Brayden Schenn (4)
GF/GP — 3.00 (14th)
GA/GP — 2.33 (6th)
PP% — 18.2% (20th)
PK% — 83.3% (13th)
FOW% — 49.1% (21st)
How To Watch, Listen, & Game Info
Chicago Blackhawks (1-3-0) @ New York Islanders (1-2-0)
6:30 p.m. CT — UBS Arena
Head Coaches: Jeff Blashill (CHI), Peter DeBoer (NYI)
TV/Stream: CHSN (Ball/Pang), MSGSN
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Roumeliotis)
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