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Red Wings Open Against Leafs

A slight change to the NHL schedule is better than no change, as far as the Detroit Red Wings are concerned.

After listening to many teams, mostly from the Western Conference, complain about a lack of interconference games the past three seasons, the league decided months ago to revert back to its pre-lockout format for the 2008-09 schedule.

For Red Wings fans, this means a little more variety -- fewer games against Central Division opponents (six each, instead of eight) and more against the Eastern Conference (18, as opposed to 10). For the first

time since 2003-04, each team plays every other club at least once.

The Red Wings announced Wednesday they will open the season at home Oct. 9 against historic rival Toronto, a night that will feature the Stanley Cup banner-raising ceremony at Joe Louis Arena. The rest of the schedule was released Thursday and includes home games against Original Six rivals Montreal (Nov. 26) and the New York Rangers (Oct. 18) as well as Stanley Cup finalist Pittsburgh (Nov. 11).

"The home opener is exciting no matter who you open with. It's really a night to reflect on what you accomplished the previous season," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "With the Toronto Maple Leafs, it's doubly special. It's going to make for a tremendous night."

Some other highlights of the schedule:

  • The other Eastern clubs visiting Joe Louis Arena are Philadelphia, the New York Islanders, New Jersey, Buffalo and Atlanta.
  • Newly acquired forward Marian Hossa will return to Pittsburgh on Feb. 8, as the Red Wings play what might be their final game at Mellon Arena.
  • Swedish prodigy Fabian Brunnstrom, who chose to sign with Dallas instead of Detroit, will visit JLA on Jan. 8 and Jan. 29.
  • NHL MVP and scoring champ Alexander Ovechkin won't play in Detroit but will face the Red Wings on Jan. 31 in Washington.
  • The Red Wings play eight of their first 12 games on the road, a stretch that includes a five-game trip from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2. They have another five-game trip from Jan. 12-20, leading into the All-Star break. The All-Star Game is Jan. 25 in Montreal.
  • The league announced on Wednesday that the Red Wings and Blackhawks will play in the Winter Classic at Chicago's Wrigley Field on Jan. 1. That prevents Detroit from hosting its traditional New Year's Eve game. The Red Wings finish the season with a home-and-home series against the Blackhawks, April 11 at JLA and the next day at the United Center.

    "Chicago has improved," Holland said. "I look for our rivalry with Chicago to really start to build."

    NHL

 

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