The NHL announced the 2010-11 regular-season schedule today, and two dates stand out for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins will open their brand new state-of-the-art arena when they host the interstate rival Philadelphia Flyers at CONSOL Energy Center Thursday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.
The other focal point will be a New Year’s Day showdown with Alex Ovechkin and the rival Washington Capitals in the NHL’s annual Bridgestone Winter Classic, which will be played at Heinz Field.
The Penguins’ schedule also features six contests against each Atlantic Division opponent and four games against the other 10 Eastern Conference teams.
The Penguins will play at least one game against each of the Western Conference teams, and will play two games (home-and-home) against three Western Conference clubs – Detroit, Phoenix and Columbus.
The regular starting time for evening home games at CONSOL Energy Center is 7 p.m.
Other schedule notables include:
*A showdown with the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks Feb. 20 at United Center
A western road trip to Dallas (Nov. 3), Anaheim (Nov. 5) and Phoenix (Nov. 6)
Five straight road games from Feb. 25-March 5 – at Carolina, at Toronto in back-to-back games, at New Jersey and at Boston
Nine home games against Western Conference opponents — Vancouver (Nov. 17), Calgary (Nov. 27), Phoenix (Dec. 20), Minnesota (Jan. 8), Detroit (Jan. 18), Columbus (Feb. 8), Los Angeles (Feb. 10), San Jose (Feb. 23) and Edmonton (March 13).
The Penguins will face the Philadelphia Flyers three times in the month of October. The Penguins will not face off against Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals until December 23rd, about a week before the 2010 NHL Winter Classic.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 2010-11 REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE
Thursday, Oct. 7 PHILADELPHIA 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 9 MONTREAL 7:00 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 11 at New Jersey 1:00 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 15 NY ISLANDERS 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 16 at Philadelphia 7:00 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 18 OTTAWA 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 21 at Nashville 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 23 at St. Louis 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 29 PHILADELPHIA 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 30 at Carolina 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 3 at Dallas 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 5 at Anaheim 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 6 at Phoenix 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 10 BOSTON 7:00 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 12 TAMPA BAY 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 13 at Atlanta 7:00 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 15 NY RANGERS 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 17 VANCOUVER 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 19 CAROLINA 7:00 p.m.
Monday Nov. 22 at Florida 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday Nov. 24 at Buffalo 7:00 p.m.
Friday Nov. 26 OTTAWA 1:00 p.m.
Saturday Nov. 27 CALGARY 1:00 p.m.
Monday Nov. 29 at NY Rangers 7:00 p.m.
Thursday Dec. 2 ATLANTA 7:00 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 4 at Columbus 7:00 p.m.
Monday Dec. 6 NEW JERSEY 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Dec. 8 TORONTO 7:00 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 11 at Buffalo 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday Dec. 14 at Philadelphia 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Dec. 15 NY RANGERS 7:00 p.m.
Monday Dec. 20 PHOENIX 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Dec. 22 FLORIDA 7:00 p.m.
Thursday Dec. 23 at Washington 7:00 p.m.
Sunday Dec. 26 at Ottawa 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday Dec. 28 ATLANTA 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Dec. 29 at NY Islanders 7:00 p.m.
*Saturday Jan. 1 WASHINGTON 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday Jan. 5 TAMPA BAY 7:00 p.m.
Thursday Jan. 6 at Montreal 7:30 p.m.
Saturday Jan. 8 MINNESOTA 7:00 p.m.
Monday Jan. 10 BOSTON 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Jan. 12 at Montreal 7:30 p.m.
Saturday Jan. 15 at Boston 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday Jan. 18 DETROIT 7:00 p.m.
Thursday Jan. 20 at New Jersey 7:00 p.m.
Saturday Jan. 22 CAROLINA 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday Jan. 25 NY ISLANDERS 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday Feb. 1 at NY Rangers 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Feb. 2 NY ISLANDERS 7:00 p.m.
Friday Feb. 4 BUFFALO 7:00 p.m.
Sunday Feb. 6 at Washington 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday Feb. 8 COLUMBUS 7:00 p.m.
Thursday Feb. 10 LOS ANGELES 7:00 p.m.
Friday Feb. 11 at NY Islanders 7:00 p.m.
Sunday Feb. 13 at NY Rangers 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday Feb. 16 at Colorado 9:00 p.m.
Sunday Feb. 20 at Chicago 4:00 p.m.
Monday Feb. 21 WASHINGTON 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Feb. 23 SAN JOSE 7:00 p.m.
Friday Feb. 25 at Carolina 7:00 p.m.
Saturday Feb. 26 at Toronto 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday March 2 at Toronto 7:00 p.m.
Friday March 4 at New Jersey 7:00 p.m.
Saturday March 5 at Boston 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday March 8 BUFFALO 7:00 p.m.
Saturday March 12 MONTREAL 1:00 p.m.
Sunday March 13 EDMONTON 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday March 15 at Ottawa 7:30 p.m.
Sunday March 20 NY RANGERS 12:30 p.m.
Monday March 21 at Detroit 7:00 p.m.
Thursday March 24 at Philadelphia 7:00 p.m.
Friday March 25 NEW JERSEY 7:00 p.m.
Sunday March 27 FLORIDA 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday March 29 PHILADELPHIA 7:00 p.m.
Thursday March 31 at Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m.
Saturday April 2 at Florida 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday April 5 NEW JERSEY 7:00 p.m.
Friday April 8 at NY Islanders 7:00 p.m.
Sunday April 10 at Atlanta 2:00 p.m

*Game to be played at Heinz Field

All TIMES EASTERN