NEW YORK – The NHL released its 2013-14 schedule and division names following the completion of an agreement to send players to the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.
The Montreal Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first game of the regular season Oct. 1. The Chicago Blackhawks will raise their 2013 Stanley Cup champions banner that night against the Washington Capitals.
It marks the first time since 2008 that the defending champion will open the regular season against a team out of its conference. The Detroit Red Wings raised their banner that year against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Also on the opening night of the season, the Winnipeg Jets will visit the Edmonton Oilers. The Calgary Flames open Oct. 3 at the Capitals, the Vancouver Canucks Oct. 3 at the San Jose Sharks and the Ottawa Senators Oct. 4 at the Buffalo Sabres.
The four divisions will be called Metropolitan, Atlantic, Central and Pacific.
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The Metropolitan is made up of the Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Atlantic has the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Senators, Sabres, Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Central has the Jets, Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues.
The Pacific has the Canucks, Flames, Oilers, Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes and Anaheim Ducks.
Former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson will make his return to Ottawa on Dec. 1 when the Detroit Red Wings visit the nation’s capital.
As previously announced, the Maple Leafs and Red Wings will play the Winter Classic Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Four other outdoor games will take place as part of the NHL’s Stadium Series. And the Heritage Classic returns, as Vancouver hosts Ottawa at B.C Place on March 2.
The league will take an Olympic break from Feb. 9-26. The regular season concludes Sunday, April 13.
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