New season features Flames back-to-back, tough travel
That old Willie Nelson classic, On The Road Again, could be the Vancouver Canucks’ theme song in November.
The Canucks released their 2015-16 National Hockey League regular-season schedule on Thursday and, as always, it includes some challenging travel. The most difficult stretch comes between Nov. 7 and Dec. 1 when Vancouver plays 11 of 13 games on the road, including a season-long seven-game trek that makes stops in Buffalo, New Jersey, Columbus, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg.
Between Nov. 7 and Dec. 22 the Canucks play 17 of 23 games on the road.
The Canucks open their new season with two games against the team that ended their last one. They begin the season on Wednesday, Oct. 7 on the road against the Calgary Flames. They then return to Rogers Arena on Oct. 10 to meet the Flames, who knocked them out of the first round of last season’s playoffs.
Once again, every team in the league will visit Rogers Arena this season. Home highlights include an Oct. 27 visit by the Montreal Canadiens.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in town Nov. 4, while the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks make the first of two visits on Nov. 21.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and new coach Mike Babcock are in town on Saturday, Feb. 13 for a 4 p.m. matchup. Roberto Luongo and the Florida Panthers visit Vancouver on Jan. 11.
The 82-game schedule includes 14 road trips and 14 homestands. Vancouver’s longest homestand is seven games and begins with a Boxing Day meeting with the Edmonton Oilers.
The schedule features 29 games against Pacific Division opponents, 21 games against other Western Conference teams and 32 contests versus Eastern Conference teams.
The Canucks will play 12 backto-back series this season, with nine of them on the road.
The Canucks conclude their regular season at home with an April 9 game against the Oilers. The Oilers, who will make Connor McDavid the No. 1 pick in today’s NHL draft, make their first visit to Rogers Arena on Oct. 18.
Vancouver plays an eight-game pre-season schedule beginning Sept. 21 against San Jose.