The NHL schedule has been released for the 2011-12 season. The full one can be seen here, but here are some tidbits:
- On October 9th Winnipeg hosts Montreal for their first ever home game
- On October 15th Winnipeg makes its first trip to Phoenix to play the old Jets for Phoenix’s home opener. Someone in the scheduling office has a sense of humor there. (Or, since it’s the home opener, the NHL figures that Phoenix fans might outnumber Winnipeg fans).
- They visit the two Ontario teams October 19th and 20th, with Toronto coming first.
- On the 26th of November they visit the Cup champion Bruins
- On December 1st, Winnipeg welcomes the Coyotes back to Winnipeg. It should be very interesting to see the reception that team gets.
- Also of note, 12 of the team’s 14 games in December are at home. That will be a key stretch for picking up some points.
- They follow that up by playing 9 of their 13 January games away from home.
- Winnipeg seemingly has an easy road in, seeing the Panthers, Flames, Stars, Hurricanes (2x), Senators and Islanders over the last two months, as well as some borderline playoff clubs such as Buffalo.