Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins (New Year's Day)

About This Event

New Year's Day hockey is a minor Chicago tradition in its own right — an early-afternoon game that fits around whatever happened the night before, and this year it's an Original Six matchup against Boston, one of the league's oldest rivalries even if neither roster resembles the teams that built it.

The Blackhawks are deep into a rebuild centered on Connor Bedard, so the on-ice stakes are modest, but a 2 PM start on a holiday makes this an easy one to actually plan a day around — brunch, then hockey.

Worth knowing: start times for United Center games sometimes shift as the season firms up, so double-check the date closer to puck drop, and buy through the United Center box office or an official team channel before resale if you want face value.