DOME WILL BE READY AS FLAMES’ SCHEDULE SET
Not only do the Calgary Flames open the National Hockey League season in the brand-new Pacific Division, they will open the home portion of their schedule in the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Which, of course, has been the burning concern for weeks. The inner-city arena, lambasted by floods, could be ready as early as Sept. 1, says Ken King. That’s the target. “We’ll have to go real hard to make that date,” said the Flames president.
“The work plan has been very good. We have good people doing hard work.”
The progress means that even pre-season dates can be staged at the Saddledome, the first of which is a spli t - squad affair — contested here and in Edmonton — on Sept. 14. “We’ve had a draft of the schedule for some time,” said King. “We’re comfortable with where we are. We feel pretty good about the direction we’re heading.”
For the first time since 1995 — give or take a holdout — the Flames will start playing a season without the services of Jarome Iginla. Which, in terms of 2013-14 highlights, seems like a good place to start — his return:
Dec. 10 — Iginla and his latest employers, Boston Bruins, visit the Saddledome. Presumably wearing Wayne Cashman’s old sweater, this will mark Iginla’s 609th game at the rink. So far, he has collected 268 goals and 302 assists there.
Oct. 3 — Flames open the regulation season in Washington against the Capitals. The next night, they’re in Columbus.
Oct. 6 — Vancouver Canucks visit the Saddledome for the Flames’ home-opener.
Oct. 16 — Groan. Sigh. The Flames travel to Anaheim, where they have only one win in their last 26 visits — and zero wins in their last 16. They also tiptoe into the Honda Center on Nov. 29.
Nov. 18 — Flames play the Jets in Winnipeg for the first time since 1996.
Nov. 27 — Chicago Blackhawks, the defending Stanley Cup champions, make their first visit. They also drop into Calgary on Jan. 28.
Dec. 23, 27 — Flames’ holiday season includes a home meetings against Jay Bouwmeester and the St. Louis Blues a couple days before Christmas, then the Oilers a couple of days after.
Dec. 31 — New Year’s Eve features a visit from the Philadelphia Flyers.
April 13 — Flames conclude the 2013-14 season with a visit to Vancouver.
Mixed into the 82 matches are three five-game road trips and a pair of five-game home stands. Twelve times, they play back to back.
And between Feb. 8 and 27, there are no games because of the Olympic break.
Day by day, this is how the Flames’ schedule stacks up — Monday (10), Tuesday (12), Wednesday (11), Thursday (12), Friday (16), Saturday (15) and Sunday (6).