Stars announce schedule for 2008-09!!

SQUEEEE!!!! (kritta, 2007-08)

http://stars.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=368622&contactID=62167059

DALLAS STARS ANNOUNCE 2008-2009 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
Stars Open Season vs. Columbus on Oct. 10;
Eight Eastern Conference Teams To Visit Dallas

FRISCO, Tex. – The Dallas Stars will open the 2008-2009 National Hockey League regular season schedule at home against the Western Conference rival Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, October 10 (7:30 p.m.). The Stars will host nine of the 15 Eastern Conference teams, up from the five inter-conference games the last three seasons. The Stars’ television schedule will be released later this summer.

The Stars are scheduled to play 82 games during the 2008-09 campaign, with 41 contests at home and 41 on the road. The home schedule features 20 weekend contests (six Friday, 10 Saturday, four Sunday). The Stars will host four Saturday matinees: Oct. 18 vs. Colorado (2 p.m.), Jan. 17 vs. Los Angeles (2 p.m.), Feb. 21 vs. Chicago (2 p.m.) and Feb. 28 vs. Anaheim (2 p.m.). The Stars also host four Sunday afternoon games: Nov. 30 vs. Edmonton (5 p.m.); Feb. 8 vs. Nashville (5:00 p.m.); Mar. 1 vs. Pittsburgh (2 p.m.) and Mar. 8 vs. Montreal (5 p.m.). The busiest home week night for the Stars is Thursday (nine times). Most evening games at American Airlines Center will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The NHL schedule remains heavily structured around conference play, especially against the team’s respective division. Dallas plays in the NHL’s Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and will play 24 divisional games against rivals Anaheim, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Jose (a total of six times each -- three home, three away).

The Stars will play a total of 40 games against non-division Western Conference foes in the Central Division (Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Nashville and St. Louis) and the Northwest Division (Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Minnesota and Vancouver), with four games against each opponent (twice at home, twice on the road).

Dallas will play a total of 18 games against Eastern Conference opponents, skating against all 15 Eastern teams once and facing off against three Eastern clubs (Florida, New Jersey, New York Rangers) both home and away. The eight Eastern Conference teams that the Stars will host are: Carolina, Washington, New Jersey, Buffalo, Atlanta, NY Rangers, Pittsburgh and Florida.

The Stars’ longest home stand this season will be a six-game stretch from Feb. 19 to Mar. 1 (Edmonton, Chicago, San Jose, St. Louis, Anaheim, Pittsburgh). The club also has a four-game home stand from Feb. 6-13 (NY Rangers, Nashville, Phoenix, Vancouver). Dallas’ longest road trip is a five-game road swing from Oct. 31 to Nov. 11 (Chicago, Boston, Anaheim, San Jose, Los Angeles).

Notable games at American Airlines Center include: home opener versus the Columbus Blue Jackets (Oct. 10); Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (Oct. 25); two games during the Thanksgiving week (Nov. 28 vs. San Jose and Nov. 30 vs. Edmonton); two games against the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings (Dec. 12 and Jan. 12); the New York Rangers (Feb. 6); Sidney Crosby and the defending Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins (Mar. 1); Guy Carbonneau’s Montreal Canadiens (Mar. 8) and New Year’s Eve vs. the New Jersey Devils (the 11th consecutive season for the Stars to play at home on Dec. 31).


HOT DAMN!