Key 2008-09 Schedule Dates Announced

The Red Wings announced several key dates from their 2008-09 schedule today. The full schedule is due to be released tomorrow.

The season will open in Detroit on October 9 as the Red Wings raise their Stanley Cup Championship banner while hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As previously noted, another matchup between Original Six rivals will occur when the Red Wings visit Wrigley Field for the Winter Classic II against the Chicago Blackhawks.

As part of the new league scheduling formula, the Red Wings will play every team in the league this season, including a home-and-home series with three Eastern Conference teams. This year, those teams will be the Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, and Atlanta Thrashers.