2010-2011 NHL Schedule

We now know the important dates for the National Hockey League schedule as the season gets underway on October 7 and will wrap up on April 10, 2011 as teams will now get ready for the season with the Draft & Free Agency coming up over the next few weeks. Some of the important dates include the NHL European Openings in early October.

Also the opening of the Consol Energy Center as the Pittsburgh Penguins are finally moving out of the Igloo after the last couple of decades.

Here's a look at the important dates for the 2010-2011 NHL Season.

To take a look at Team-by-Team Schedules: www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=63085

To select team, select the Ind. Logo. National TV Schedules will be out soon for a majority of the season.

Dallas Stars Schedule: www.nhl.com/ice/schedulebyseason.htm?team=dal

Notable Dallas Stars Games: http://stars.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=532269

For more on these and more big nights for the season: www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=532279

October 7: Opening Night

Toronto Maple Leafs VS. Montreal Canadiens as the Hockey & Entertainment Festival in Toronto gets underway.

Pittsburgh Penguins open the Consol Energy Center


October 7-10: European Premier Weekend

6 Teams will start the season in Europe as part of the opening weekend. We have the Carolina VS. Minnesota in Helsinki, Finland. Next up is the Columbus Blue Jackets VS. San Jose Sharks in Stockholm, Sweden. Finally the league heads back to Prague, Czech Rep. as Boston & Phoenix will take on each other in the Czech Capital.


October 9: Chicago's Banner Ceremony

The Blackhawks will officially unveil the Stanley Cup Championship Banner and get to feature the Cup before the they hand back to the league.


October 30: 28 Teams in Action

The busiest night of the year as 28 of the league's 30 teams will be in action.


November 6: Hockey Hall of Fame Game

The League's Hall of Fame Game as the Maple Leafs will honor the 2010 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees that were voted in this week.

January 1: NHL Winter Classic

The NHL will host the 4th annual Winter Classic as the games top superstars Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby will play at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. In a recent article, Forbes Magazine named the Winter Classic as the top new sporting event of the last decade.

January 23: Stanley Cup Finals Rematch

It's the only matchup of the Stanley Cup Finals Rematch as the Flyers & Blackhawks will battle in Chicago.

January 29-30: All Star Weekend

The League's 58th All Star Game will be taking place in Raleigh, NC as the Carolina Hurricanes will host the league's annual Mid-Winter Classic.

February 12: Hockey Day in Canada

The CBC does it's annual Triple Header with all 6 Canadian Teams in action as Ottawa travels to Edmonton, Toronto takes on Montreal and Calgary goes to Vancouver.

February 20: NHL Heritage Classic and Hockey Day in America

This is the NHL's 2nd Outdoor Game of the Year in Canada as the Montreal Canadians travels to Calgary's Mcmahon Stadium to take on the Flames.

Also taking place that day is something that USA Hockey has been building and promoting in recent years called Hockey Day in America. Events will be going on at NHL Games and rinks across the country. NHL Highlights include Washington VS. Buffalo, Philadelphia VS. NY Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings VS. Minnesota Wild. Also a match between the last 2 Stanley Cup Champions as Pittsburgh takes on Chicago.

April 10: Last day of the Regular Season

April 13: First day of the Playoffs

The last possible date for the 2011 Stanley Cup Championship to be awarded out on June 17.