2011-12 NHL Schedule Released: Link and Thoughts

I PM is the preferred time for the Outdoor Classic – last year it was delayed because of weather conditions.

With our luck, it’ll be 65 and sunny – breaking hundred-plus year old records for January 2.

The Winter Classic is on the schedule for January 2nd at 1 PM. Can that be right?

Yeah, they’ve acknowledged this. If the NFL is playing Jan. 1 is a Sunday, no need to compete against that.

So they are going to play a Winter Classic while the world works?

What Jim means is its 1 pm on a Monday. Most people will be back at work that day. I don’t get why Saturday DEC 31st wouldn’t work

Apologize again for this pasting so badly, but the link didn’t work. After all, it is the NHL, and the Rangers

I am the other one that cares about the Phoenix game, can’t wait. Other thing I noticed is that hellacious first week after they return from Sweden. They start in LA and Anahiem, then fly back to to New York to play at the Islanders, then out to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg before heading home for the home opener. That is going to be one tired bunch.

Love the lengthy homestand returning from the road to start the season.

Home for more than half of march straight is huge to me. That will be a key point in this season if this team can continue to pplay better at home. Hopefully we can get to a point during that stretch where we can be around 5th place and coast to playoffs instead of grinding every day to the last minute of the season like last 2 years.

The opener is 1pm on a work/school day too? this sucks

i know its already been stated…and i’ve been complaining about it all day……………but if i dont get off from work and goto the WC….im going to be very unhappy….otherwise……..cant wait!

Surprised both European games are considered away.. Works for Rangers I guess. I can see how that makes sense, they’re doing it differently this year with only 6 teams.

Some other notes: Rangers only have 14 back to back games (By my count) which is a lot less then last year. All 30 teams will play on April 7th, the last day of the season which is cool. Rangers most active month is March with 17 games, one of Hanks best months statistically.

Big road stretch before the home opener. Road warriors!

for both the opener & the Winter Classic regardless of whether or not I’m off. (Insurance policy)

6 & 7 Game home stands!
That last handful of games to end the season is gunna be a bitch. Boston, Philly, Pitt & the Caps. Ugh…

Off topic but pretty big news

DarrenDreger Darren Dreger
As per @TSNBobMcKenzie. Jeff Carter has been told he’s been traded to CBJ.

“only” a 7-game road trip to start the season (2 in Stockholm, the Mausoleum, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg), not 8 as stated in the original post, but that’s still a whack-ass way to start the season.

Re. the Winter Classic, where 1/1 falls on a Sunday 1/2 is a federal holiday, so many people should be off from work that day.

I like that we play Chicago twice (I’m into the original 6 thing) and I love the 7-game homestand in March, during which there aren’t ANY back to back games.

Let’s get real. The “Winter Classic” is a dumb gimmick and this year’s scheduling only emphasizes the second rate status of the NHL in the eyes of the TV networks.

The early away games have to due withe MSG construction. Also, what if MSG isn’t ready for the first home game? Remember Dolan is in charge.

I’m out in the Phoenix area fairly often for work… Next time I’m out there you should hold another Ranger viewing party and I’ll make it for sure. Hell, maybe I can schedule something out there around December 17th and actually make it to the game, that would be awesome.

I thought you would all like to know that my office is closed January 2nd for New Years, so I’m good!

Cruuud. I was hoping for another early year (i.e. warm) @ Buff game. Oh well, at least the weekend game falls in December and not in February. Though to be fair, at least Buffalo is a tropical paradise in winter compared with certain cities in Manitoba.