Wings to Host Canucks in Season Opener

The National Hockey League released its 2006-2007 season schedule on Wednesday, revealing that the Detroit Red Wings will open their season at home, hosting the Vancouver Canucks on October 5.

The Red Wings will play the first of their ten inter-conference games just two days later when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. After hosting Atlantic Division teams and visiting the Southeast Division last season, the Central Division will travel to the Atlantic Division cities while hosting Northeast Division teams this year.

Detroit’s annual tradition of a New Year’s Eve game will stay alive as the Red Wings host the Los Angles Kings on the last night of 2006.

The Red Wings’ first matchup with the Edmonton Oilers after falling to them in the 2006 playoffs comes on October 21 when the Wings visit Edmonton. The Oilers first visit of the season to Joe Louis Arena comes on November 8.

Longtime Red Wing Brendan Shanahan’s new club, the New York Rangers, will host Detroit on February 5.

Like last season, the schedule includes the rare quirk of a home-and-home-and-home series, this one with the Minnesota Wild in late December.

In yet another scheduling oddity, the Red Wings will play on back-to-back nights 14 times throughout the season. Each time features games in different cities.