The NHL season is slowly coming together as the NHLPA will be voting Saturday morning on whether to ratify the new CBA. Training camps are then slated to begin running on Sunday Jan 13 with the season set to start on Jan. 19.
The official schedule is expected to be announced after the NHLPA ratifies, but matchups for opening games have started to leak on the internet. According to Islanders Point Blank, the opening day matchups that have been announced include the NY Rangers at the Boston Bruins; the Toronto Maple Leafs will visit the Montreal Canadiens; the Carolina Hurricanes will take on the Florida Panthers; the Winnipeg Jets will host the Ottawa Senators; and the Pittsburgh Penguins will face the Philadelphia Flyers. The NY Islanders will open against the NJ Devils, though there is no mention of whether that game takes place on the 19th or 20th. The Washington Capitals will also play the Tampa Bay Lightning. Buffalo is not expected to play anyone on opening day, but will host the Flyers on the 20th.
In the Western Conference, the Stanley Cup Champion LA Kings will raise their banner on the 19th when they play the Chicago Blackhawks. The Vancouver Canucks will host the Anaheim Ducks; Columbus will face off against Nashville; Minnesota will face Colorado; and Detroit will battle St. Louis.
The season is expected to end in late April and the playoffs will begin on May 1.
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