2012-13 NHL Schedule: The Best Blackhawks Games to Watch Each Month

As long as there isn't a lockout, the 2012-13 season should be one of the most exciting seasons in NHL history. League parity is at an all-time high, and last season's playoffs showed that any team can do anything.

The Chicago Blackhawks will be one of the most interesting teams to watch in the upcoming year, coming off of their second-straight first-round loss and trying to reclaim their status as an elite team.

Let's take a look at some of the best games on the schedule this year. 

October

Detroit at Chicago
Saturday October 20, 7:30 PM CT

Chicago's fourth game of the year is a Saturday night showdown at the Madhouse against the rival Red Wings.

The Red Wings will be depleted after the losses of Nicklas Lidstrom, Brad Stuart and Jiri Hudler, but expect them to still be among the NHL's best.

This will be an early test for both teams, and it should be a great battle.

November

Chicago at Los Angeles
Wednesday November 21, 9:30 PM CT

November will be an exciting month as it includes games against Pittsburgh, Vancouver and two against the defending Stanley Cup Champions: the Los Angeles Kings.

The matchup between Chicago and Los Angeles is one of the most intriguing in hockey as the Blackhawks are extremely talented offensively while the Kings boast a terrific defense and one of the league's best goalies.

This matchup comes in the midst of a grueling six-game West Coast trip, and it should be a terrific game.

December

Chicago at Minnesota
Tuesday December 18, 7:00 PM CT

This will be the second and final visit to the XCEL Energy Center for the Blackhawks against the new-look Minnesota Wild.

At this point last season, Minnesota was one of the top teams in hockey before completely derailing and missing the playoffs.

This year, the team is much deeper and will be looking to remain a playoff contender throughout the year. This matchup could become one of the NHL's better rivalries due to location and the talent of each team if Minnesota shows an improvement this year.

January

Chicago at Boston
Saturday January 12, 12:00 PM CT

These two Original Six rivals and recent Stanley Cup Champions meet up on a Saturday matinee in Beantown.

They are two very evenly-matched teams, and it will be very interesting to see how they perform this season. This will definitely be one of the premier matchups on the NHL schedule this year, and every hockey fan should make an effort to watch some of it. This will be a game to remember. 

February

Chicago at Vancouver
Saturday February 2, 9:00 PM CT

The Blackhawks meet their archrival Canucks in the middle of a five game road trip. This Saturday night clash will feature one of the best rivalries in the NHL, and it is possible that these two could be in the race for the President's Trophy at this point in the season with about two months left. 

March

Chicago at Philadelphia
Sunday March 10, 2:00 PM CT

The Blackhawks spend most of March on the road, but this will be the best game as the Blackhawks return to the place they won the 2010 Stanley Cup.

The Flyers and Blackhawks will be very interesting to watch this year as both are among the league's top offensive teams but struggle defensively and have questionable goaltending.

This very evenly-matched game will provide a lot of excitement for hockey fans on a nationally-televised matinee. 

April

St. Louis at Chicago
Friday April 12, 7:30 PM CT

This is the first of a weekend home-and-home to close out the season between these two Central Division rivals.

Both teams could challenge for the division, and it could come down to this set of games to determine the winner if nobody has clinched yet. Even if St. Louis, Chicago or Detroit has clinched the division before this game, it could be crucial for playoff positioning given the parity in the Western Conference.