MINNEAPOLIS — It figures to be a raucous opening-night crowd for the Avalanche this coming season. That’s always the case when the Detroit Red Wings are in town.
The Avs released their 2011-12 schedule Thursday, with an Oct. 8 season opener set against the Red Wings at the Pepsi Center. It will be the first time since the Avs’ inaugural season of 1995-96 that they’ll open a season against their bitter rivals.
The Avs won’t get to stay at home very long, though. Games 2-6 of the season will be on the road, the first coming Oct. 10 against defending Stanley Cup champion Boston and four others in Columbus, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto.
The Avs will play 18 of their 41 home games on a weekend night (five Friday, nine Saturday and four Sunday), with a season-long eight-game homestand from Nov. 18-Dec. 4.
For the fourth consecutive season, the Avs will face every Eastern Conference team at least once, with three others (Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Winnipeg) twice each. The Avs will end the regular season with an April 7 home contest against Nashville.
The NHL’s All-Star Game will be Jan. 29 in Ottawa.
This could be the Avs’ final season playing in the Northwest Division, as Winnipeg is likely to replace them starting in 2012-13. Colorado proably will move to the Southwest or Pacific division.
The Avs will play six preseason games, including Oct. 1 in Las Vegas against Los Angeles.
Other highlight games for the Avs include a March 3 home date against Pittsburgh and (hopefully) star Sidney Crosby and a Dec. 17 home game against Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals. There is a Dec. 19 home game against Philadelphia and a New Year’s Eve game at Anaheim.
