2010-2011 NHL Schedule Announced

Today for somebody like me is a very very good day. Why? Because it is the announcement of the schedule for the following season in the National Hockey League. As you could have guessed the schedule was announced for the 2010-2011 NHL Season. We will get to the Schedule for the Islanders in a little while. But for right now here are some highlights of other games worth interest at this point in time.


Oct. 7-10, NHL Premiere
For the fourth straight season, the NHL regular-season will launch in Europe. This time the contingent is six teams, as Carolina and Minnesota play twice in Helsinki, Finland (Oct. 7 & 8), Columbus and San Jose will face off for two games in Stockholm, Sweden (Oct. 8 & 9), and Boston and Phoenix clash twice in Prague, Czech Republic (Oct. 9 & 10).

Oct. 9, Detroit at Chicago
The Blackhawks host the Red Wings, their Original Six rival, at United Center – and before the game, they'll raise the fourth Stanley Cup championship banner in franchise history, and first since 1961.

Oct. 30, 14 games
On the busiest night of the schedule, 28 of the 30 teams will be in action.

Nov. 6, Buffalo at Toronto
Two days before the official induction of Dino Ciccarelli, Cammi Granato, Angela James, Jimmy Devellano and Daryl Seaman, the Maple Leafs will host the Sabres in the Hockey Hall of Fame Game, an annual rite in which the induction class is honored in a pregame ceremony at Air Canada Centre.

Nov. 20, NY Rangers at Minnesota
Marian Gaborik, the one-time franchise wunderkind of the Wild (2000-2009), returns to Minnesota for the first time as the opposition. The Rangers did visit St. Paul last season, but Gaborik did not play due to a leg injury.

Nov. 24, Boston at Florida
The Panthers had high hopes for Nathan Horton, the No. 3 pick in the 2003 Entry Draft. Shortly after the 2010-11 schedule was released, he was dealt to the Bruins after six seasons and 142 goals scored for Florida. This is his first trip back to the BankAtlantic Center.

Dec. 2, San Jose at Ottawa
Two-time 50-goal scorer Dany Heatley, traded by Ottawa to San Jose last summer, returns to Scotiabank Place as a visitor for the first time -- and probably won't receive a warm welcome. Last season, the Senators and Sharks only met in San Jose.

Dec. 16, Toronto at Calgary
Rugged defenseman Dion Phaneuf, the new captain of the Maple Leafs, returns to Calgary for the first time since his surprising trade to Toronto last season. Phaneuf was a fan favorite for five seasons with the Flames, his first NHL team.

Dec. 23, Pittsburgh at Washington
Round 1 of Alex Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby comes one week before their expected epic of an outdoor game.

Jan. 1, 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic
For the fourth consecutive season, the NHL takes it outside on New Year's Day with the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. This edition is a mega-watt star showdown between Alex Ovechkin's Capitals and Sidney Crosby's Penguins at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Forbes magazine labeled the Winter Classic the best new sporting event of the last decade.

Jan. 20, Anaheim at Toronto
In nine seasons with the Ducks, goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere guided them to the Stanley Cup twice, winning it all in 2007. Tonight, he faces Anaheim for the first time as an opponent.

Jan. 22, Anaheim at Montreal
It should be an emotional evening when Saku Koivu returns to Montreal for the first time as a visiting player. He captained Montreal for most of his tenure from 1995 through 2009 before leaving as a free agent. Koivu played against the Canadiens once last season, but the game took place in Anaheim.

Jan. 23, Philadelphia at Chicago
The Stanley Cup finalists meet for the first time since Patrick Kane's overtime goal ousted the Flyers in Game 6.

Jan. 30, NHL All-Star Game
The League's 58th annual mid-season spectacular visits the Carolina Hurricanes and the city of Raleigh. The NHL SuperSkills takes place on Jan. 29 at the RBC Center.

Feb. 6, Pittsburgh at Washington
Round 3 of Ovechkin vs. Crosby is a Sunday matinee at Verizon Center.

Feb. 12, Hockey Day In Canada
CBC's 11th annual Hockey Day In Canada offers a "Hockey Night in Canada" triple header -- Ottawa at Edmonton (2 p.m. ET), Toronto at Montreal (7 p.m. ET), and Calgary at Vancouver (10 p.m. ET).

Feb. 17, Detroit at Tampa Bay
Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman faces the Red Wings, the team he starred for as a player for 22 seasons before beginning his executive career, for the only time this season.

Feb. 20, Montreal at Calgary
The NHL Heritage Classic returns to Canada for the first time since 2003 and pits the Canadiens against the Flames in an outdoor game at McMahon Stadium. Bring your long johns.

Feb. 20, Hockey Day In America
As part of USA Hockey's Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by Reebok, the day-long event will celebrate hockey in the United States with Washington at Buffalo, Philadelphia at the New York Rangers and Detroit at Minnesota. Also, in a meeting of the last two Stanley Cup champions, Pittsburgh visits Chicago.

Feb. 21, Washington at Pittsburgh
Round 4 of Ovechkin vs. Crosby is a Monday night showdown at Consol Energy Center.

March 10, Montreal at St. Louis
Though he didn't reach the sainted status of Patrick Roy, Jaroslav Halak was certainly the most popular Slovak in Montreal last season, rescuing the team down the stretch and leading the Canadiens to playoff upsets of Washington and Pittsburgh before losing to Philadelphia in the conference final. He was traded to the Blues last week as he approaches restricted free agency on July 1.


SCHEDULE NOTES:
-John MacLean makes his regular-season debut as the Devils' coach and Jason Arnott marks his return to the club Oct. 8 when New Jersey hosts Dallas
-Scott Arniel makes his regular-season debut as the Blue Jackets' coach against San Jose in Stockholm Oct. 8 and makes his regular-season North America debut Friday, Oct. 15, against the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks
-Guy Boucher makes his regular-season debut as head coach of the Lightning when Tampa Bay hosts Atlanta Saturday, Oct. 9
-GM Steve Yzerman and the Lightning are home to the Detroit Red Wings, Yzerman's long-time former team, Thursday, Feb. 17
-Tampa Bay owns the season's longest homestand, 12 games from Jan. 23-Feb. 25, while Los Angeles faces the season's longest road trip, 10 games from Feb. 1-23
-The cross-state rivalry between Florida and Tampa Bay gets underway Oct. 16 when the Lightning provide the opposition for the Panthers' home opener. The teams are led by new general managers – Yzerman in Tampa and Dale Tallon in Florida
-The St. Louis Blues and former Canadiens G Jaroslav Halak host Montreal Thursday, March 10
-The Ottawa Senators play their concluding 26 regular-season games against Eastern Conference opponents
-The Los Angeles Kings play their concluding 23 games against Western Conference, including the last five against Pacific Division opponents
-The Calgary Flames and Phoenix Coyotes both play their concluding 20 games against Western Conference opponents
-Carolina makes the latest North American home debut – October 27 against Washington.


So that takes care of the league in general. Now here is what I really care about, the 82 games that will be played by the New York Islanders during the 2010-2011 season:

Oct 9, 2010 vs DALLAS 7:00 PM
Oct 11, 2010 vs NY RANGERS 1:00 PM
Oct 13, 2010 @ WASHINGTON 7:00 PM
Oct 15, 2010 @ PITTSBURGH 7:00 PM
Oct 16, 2010 vs COLORADO 7:00 PM
Oct 18, 2010 @ TORONTO 7:00 PM
Oct 21, 2010 @ TAMPA BAY 7:30 PM
Oct 23, 2010 @ FLORIDA 7:00 PM
Oct 27, 2010 @ MONTREAL 7:30 PM
Oct 29, 2010 vs MONTREAL 7:00 PM
Oct 30, 2010 @ PHILADELPHIA 7:00 PM
Nov 3, 2010 @ CAROLINA 7:00 PM
Nov 4, 2010 @ OTTAWA 7:30 PM
Nov 6, 2010 vs PHILADELPHIA 7:00 PM
Nov 10, 2010 @ ANAHEIM 10:00 PM
Nov 11, 2010 @ SAN JOSE 10:30 PM
Nov 13, 2010 @ LOS ANGELES 10:30 PM
Nov 17, 2010 vs TAMPA BAY 7:00 PM
Nov 20, 2010 vs FLORIDA 7:00 PM
Nov 21, 2010 @ ATLANTA 5:00 PM
Nov 24, 2010 vs COLUMBUS 7:00 PM
Nov 26, 2010 vs NEW JERSEY 1:00 PM
Dec 2, 2010 vs NY RANGERS 7:00 PM
Dec 3, 2010 @ NY RANGERS 7:00 PM
Dec 5, 2010 vs PHILADELPHIA 1:00 PM
Dec 9, 2010 @ BOSTON 7:00 PM
Dec 11, 2010 vs ATLANTA 7:00 PM
Dec 13, 2010 @ NASHVILLE 8:00 PM
Dec 16, 2010 vs ANAHEIM 7:00 PM
Dec 18, 2010 vs PHOENIX 7:00 PM
Dec 22, 2010 vs TAMPA BAY 7:00 PM
Dec 23, 2010 @ NEW JERSEY 7:00 PM
Dec 26, 2010 vs MONTREAL 7:00 PM
Dec 27, 2010 @ NY RANGERS 7:00 PM
Dec 29, 2010 vs PITTSBURGH 7:00 PM
Dec 31, 2010 vs DETROIT 7:00 PM
Jan 3, 2011 @ CALGARY 9:00 PM
Jan 6, 2011 @ EDMONTON 9:00 PM
Jan 8, 2011 @ COLORADO 3:00 PM
Jan 9, 2011 @ CHICAGO 7:00 PM
Jan 11, 2011 vs VANCOUVER 7:00 PM
Jan 13, 2011 vs OTTAWA 7:00 PM
Jan 15, 2011 vs BUFFALO 7:00 PM
Jan 17, 2011 vs NEW JERSEY 1:00 PM
Jan 20, 2011 vs WASHINGTON 7:00 PM
Jan 21, 2011 @ BUFFALO 7:30 PM
Jan 23, 2011 vs BUFFALO 3:00 PM
Jan 25, 2011 @ PITTSBURGH 7:00 PM
Jan 26, 2011 vs CAROLINA 7:00 PM
Feb 1, 2011 @ ATLANTA 7:00 PM
Feb 2, 2011 @ PITTSBURGH 7:00 PM
Feb 5, 2011 vs OTTAWA 7:00 PM
Feb 8, 2011 vs TORONTO 7:00 PM
Feb 10, 2011 @ MONTREAL 7:30 PM
Feb 11, 2011 vs PITTSBURGH 7:00 PM
Feb 13, 2011 @ BUFFALO 3:00 PM
Feb 15, 2011 @ OTTAWA 7:30 PM
Feb 17, 2011 vs BOSTON 7:00 PM
Feb 19, 2011 vs LOS ANGELES 7:00 PM
Feb 21, 2011 vs FLORIDA 1:00 PM
Feb 22, 2011 @ TORONTO 7:00 PM
Feb 24, 2011 @ PHILADELPHIA 7:00 PM
Feb 26, 2011 vs WASHINGTON 7:00 PM
Mar 1, 2011 @ WASHINGTON 7:00 PM
Mar 2, 2011 vs MINNESOTA 7:00 PM
Mar 5, 2011 vs ST LOUIS 1:00 PM
Mar 6, 2011 vs NEW JERSEY 1:00 PM
Mar 8, 2011 vs TORONTO 7:00 PM
Mar 11, 2011 vs BOSTON 7:00 PM
Mar 12, 2011 @ NEW JERSEY 7:00 PM
Mar 15, 2011 @ NY RANGERS 7:00 PM
Mar 18, 2011 @ CAROLINA 7:00 PM
Mar 19, 2011 @ FLORIDA 7:00 PM
Mar 22, 2011 @ TAMPA BAY 7:30 PM
Mar 24, 2011 vs ATLANTA 7:00 PM
Mar 26, 2011 vs PHILADELPHIA 7:00 PM
Mar 30, 2011 @ NEW JERSEY 7:00 PM
Mar 31, 2011 vs NY RANGERS 7:00 PM
Apr 2, 2011 vs CAROLINA 7:00 PM
Apr 6, 2011 @ BOSTON 7:00 PM
Apr 8, 2011 vs PITTSBURGH 7:00 PM
Apr 9, 2011 @ PHILADELPHIA 7:00 PM

So there you have it. The Schedule for the 2010-2011 NHL Season. For more details and information go to nhl.com