The first game of the year will be more than your average home opener for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

When the Pittsburgh Penguins kick off their 2023-24 season against the Chicago Blackhawks, there will be no shortage of things to watch or storylines to keep an eye on.

On both sides of the ice, the Penguins and Blackhawks are entering the 2023-24 season with more on the line than normal.

No matter where you look within PPG Paints Arena, there will be some kind of story to follow along with.

Penguins Look for Hot Start

The Penguins missed the postseason by just a point last year and are going to be hungrier than ever to get back into the dance.

With a long season ahead of them, one of the Penguins main focal points on the year will be more consistency, and a great way of doing that is getting off to a hot start.

Gaining early traction all starts with a good game to open the season, especially in front of your home crowd.

Sure, the Blackhawks are a rebuilding team, but the Penguins can’t take them lightly or possibly face a similar outcome as the penultimate game from last season.

Erik Karlsson’s Penguins Debut

With the preseason in the rearview, the biggest offseason move will make his official debut in Pittsburgh.

Erik Karlsson is set to play his first real game with the Penguins organization and it will be a fresh start for the reigning Norris Trophy winner.

As a member of the San Jose Sharks last year, Karlsson put up 101 points as a defenseman, but this time around he’ll be playing on a more competitive team hungry for the playoffs.

Karlsson hopes to be a key contributor in the Penguins’ hunt for another Stanley Cup.

Will Jake Guentzel Draw In?

It didn’t seem like Jake Guentzel was going to be ready for opening night until just a few days ago.

Guentzel spent the entirety of training camp on the Penguins’ injured list, but began taking reps with the full team and was even seeing time on the top power play unit.

At first it was projected that Guentzel would miss the first few games of the season, but head coach Mike Sullivan slated him as a game-time decision for the opener.

Connor Bedard’s NHL Debut

On the other end of the ice, the Blackhawks have a massive storyline of their own, and that's the debut of one of the most anticipated rookies in recent memory.

Connor Bedard was taken by the Blackhawks first overall in June and Pittsburgh will be the lucky location for his NHL debut.

Many have labeled Bedard as the ‘Next Sidney Crosby,’ so it’s only appropriate this is how the cards were dealt.

It’ll be more than just your run of the mill home opener on Tuesday and every second will be must-see hockey.

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.

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