Breaking down the Utah Hockey Club’s schedule for October 2024

The Utah Hockey Club will kick off its first season on October 8th in what should be an epic matchup against a division rival.

Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman looks on as Utah Hockey Club is on the clock during the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman looks on as Utah Hockey Club is on the clock during the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports | Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Utah Hockey Club has a chance to turn around what was a tumultuous tenure in Arizona. But they left the desert as winners, and surely, they would like to build on that momentum heading into 2024-25. 

Speaking of the upcoming season, who is Utah playing and when? If you’re looking to follow the NHL’s latest franchise, keep reading for a complete list of games for October 2024. Following this schedule, we’ll briefly break down each team and project who Utah has the best chance to beat and who could ultimately get the best of them. 

Check out the Utah Hockey Club’s schedule for October 2024

  • October 8th, 8:00 PM vs. Chicago Blackhawks
  • October 10th, 5:30 PM at New York Islanders
  • October 12th, 5:00 PM at New York Rangers
  • October 14th, 11:00 AM at New Jersey Devils
  • October 16th, 8:00 PM at Anaheim Ducks
  • October 19th, 7:00 PM vs. Boston Bruins
  • October 22nd, 7:15 PM vs. Ottawa Senators
  • October 24th, 7:00 PM vs. Colorado Avalanche 
  • October 26th, 2:00 PM at Los Angeles Kings
  • October 28th, 7:00 PM vs. San Jose Sharks
  • October 30th, 7:30 PM vs. Calgary Flames

Source: NHL.com - All faceoff times are in the Mountain Time Zone

How will the Utah Hockey Club fare in October 2024?

If you’re a new fan of Utah but are simultaneously a seasoned NHL fan, you’re probably not liking this early-season outlook. Utah’s best chances to win will come during the home opener vs. the Blackhawks, against the Ducks on the 16th, vs. the Senators on the 22nd, vs. the Sharks on the 28th, and vs. the Flames on the 30th. 

But here’s the catch: Chicago could be one of the NHL’s most improved teams if they build chemistry early, and generational talent Connor Bedard is ready to start taking over as the true face of the franchise in Year 2 of his young career. 

I don’t envy anyone facing the New York teams, as both will be tough again in 2024-25, and don’t count out what will be a resurging New Jersey Devils squad. Anaheim still looks weak, and they remain in rebuilding mode, but Boston looks like a true Stanley Cup contender, and you can say the same for the Avalanche. 

The Senators still aren’t a good hockey team, but with Linus Ullmark in town, they won’t be easy to score on. While the Kings look weaker on paper, they were still a playoff team last season, and nobody can underestimate them. 

San Jose may be the weakest team on this list, but even they added some quality talent in free agency, and there’s also another big-time youngster out there in Macklin Celebrini. Calgary may ultimately end up as the weakest link if they trade off any more players, something that has become a theme of theirs over the past two seasons.