The NHL released the 2013-14 Anaheim Ducks schedule today along with the realigned division names.
The Ducks will play in the newly revamped seven-team Pacific Division. Changes include, Dallas heading to the Central Division and Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver coming out west. The East was split into an all new Atlantic Division (Bos, Buf, Det, Fla, Mon, Ott, Tor, TB) and the Metropolitan Division (NYR, NYI, NJ, Pitt, Phi, Car, Was, CLB)
(I don't like it, no sir I don't)
Anaheim opens the season in Colorado for the first of three road games before returning home October 10th to face the New York Rangers.
Under the new format, the Ducks play their divisional foes five times each throughout the season, and one opponent four times during the season. The four-game series with one divisional opponent will rotate from season to season. Anaheim will face the other Western Conference teams a total of three times each.
Anaheim will once again be playing teams from the Eastern Conference. As you will recall, the lockout stole that from us last season.They'll play each team in the East twice, one at home and once on the road.
This 2013-14 season will be the first time since 1997-98 that every NHL team will visit Honda Center at least one time. That means all Original Six clubs too! Good times.
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As many of you know, the Anaheim franchise is celebrating its 20th year in existence. The schedule will include several special events at the Honda Center to honor the team that Walt built. Events will include great moments in Ducks history, special merchandise and a "Throw Back Night." Oh goodie!
Other notable dates to remember:
Oct. 2 vs. Colorado - Season Opener
Oct. 10 vs. New York - Home Opener
Nov. 20 vs New Jersey (This one's for me)
Dec. 3 First meeting with LA
Dec. 31 vs. San Jose
Jan. 7 vs. Boston
Jan. 12 vs. Detroit
Jan. 21 vs. Winnipeg - First visit since relocating from Atlanta.
Jan. 25 - Ducks vs. Kings at Dodger Stadium! Be there!
Feb. 5 vs. Chicago
Mar. 5 vs. Montreal
Mar. 7 vs. Pittsburgh (Crosby/Malkin)
Mar. 10 vs. Toronto.
Mar. 18 Washington (Ovechkin)
From the team website:
The Ducks will host 19 weekend dates in 2013-14, including eight Friday, two Saturday and nine Sunday contests. The club will host a season-high nine games at Honda Center in the month of January, while November will serve as the busiest month overall with 15 games on the club’s schedule (home and road). Anaheim’s longest homestands will be three five-game stretches at Honda Center from Oct. 10-20, Jan. 28-Feb. 5 and Feb. 28-Mar. 10. The NHL will take a 17-day pause in February for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games to be held in Sochi, Russia. The Ducks will embark a season-long eight-game, 14-day road trip from Oct. 22-Nov. 4. In addition, Anaheim will compete in 14 sets of back-to-back games this season.
October really can't come soon enough.
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