The NHL has released the 2016-2017 regular season schedule in it’s entirety. We learned yesterday that the home opener will be against the Ottawa Senators on Monday, October 17th. The season will begin on the road, as we found out the Wings are set to face Tampa on October 13th for their home opener. That will be quite the homecoming for Steven Stamkos. (kazoo noises)
Here’s the full schedule from the Red Wings press release:
The Wings look to face 16 back-to-backs in the 2016-2017 season, with the west coast trip landing in the beginning of January. An interesting note from Bill Roose:
Some unique dates on the #RedWings schedule, including March 18 doubleheader: matinee vs @Avalanche and Big Ten championship in the evening.
— The Wheel Deal (@Bill_Roose) June 21, 2016
That could be really cool for those able to make a whole day out of it. Hockey in the early afternoon, hit the downtown area, then come back for more hockey.
From the NHL’s press release:
Eastern Conference (8-Team Divisions)
Within Conference (Division): 30 games
* 5 games vs. two teams (3 Home/2 Away vs. one team, 2 Home/3 Away vs. one
team) AND 4 games vs. five teams (2 Home/2 Away). Teams rotated on a yearly
basis.
* 5 x 2 = 10 games
* 4 x 5 = 20 games
Within Conference (Non-Division): 24 games
* 3 games vs. each team (2 Home/1 Away vs. four teams, 1 Home/2 Away vs.
four teams). Teams rotated on a yearly basis.
* 3 x 8 = 24 games
Non-Conference: 28 games
* 2 games vs. each team (1 Home/1 Away).
* 2 x 14 = 28 games
Western Conference (7-Team Divisions)
Within Conference (Division): 29 games
* 5 games vs. five teams (3 Home/2 Away vs. two teams, 2 Home/3 Away vs.
three teams) AND 4 games vs. one team (2 Home/2 Away). Teams rotated on a
yearly basis.
* 5 x 5 = 25 games
* 1 x 4 = 4 games
Within Conference (Non-Division): 21 games
* 3 games vs. each team (2 Home/1 Away vs. four teams, 1 Home/2 Away vs.
three teams). Teams rotated on a yearly basis.
* 3 x 7 = 21 games
Non-Conference: 32 games
* 2 games vs. each team (1 Home/1 Away).
* 2 x 16 = 32 games
Exception: One team from each division plays one less game inside division
and one more game inside conference outside division.
Schedule Notes
Regular Season Opens: Wednesday, Oct. 12
Christmas Break: Saturday, Dec. 24 – Monday, Dec. 26
All-Star Break: Friday, Jan. 27 – Monday, Jan. 30
Last Day of Regular Season: Sunday, April 9
