LAS VEGAS – Lost in the big news that Nathan Horton was traded is that the Panthers unveiled their schedule today.
The good news is we're going to Nashville again this year and will also have a California trip in December.
The bad news? Canada in February.
The NHL released the 2010-11 schedule on Tuesday, with the Panthers opening the season Oct. 10 in Edmonton, Alberta. The team will play its first three games out west (Vancouver on Oct. 11 and Calgary on Oct. 14) before playing host to the Lightning for the home opener on Oct. 16.The Panthers will play three home games in the opening month, with all six road games in October played on Canadian soil. Florida visits Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal from Oct. 26-30.
“I really like our schedule, it's by far the best preseason, training camp and regular season schedule we've had in the short time I've been here,'' said coach Pete DeBoer.
“We're heading west to start the season, but you don't mind starting the season there. You like to start on the road with your group, get some games under your belt.''
As usual, the Panthers will be home for the holidays, with Pittsburgh, Boston and the Rangers visiting at Thanksgiving. The Bruins – and new winger Nathan Horton – visit Sunrise on Dec. 27 with Montreal playing in Sunrise on New Year's Eve at 5 p.m. for the second straight season. Horton's first visit as a member of the Bruins comes on Nov. 24.
The Panthers also have a seven game homestand in March, tied for longest in franchise history.
Each team in the Eastern Conference will visit Sunrise twice, with Southeast Division teams coming to town three times. Florida will also play host to Stanley Cup champ Chicago on March 8 as well as the Red Wings on Feb. 18.
Western Conference teams making a visit include Dallas, Minnesota, Colorado, Nashville, St. Louis, San Jose and Columbus.
The Panthers will make trips to western Canada as well as Anaheim, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Nashville, Chicago and Columbus.
Panthers 2010-11 Schedule
ALL TIMES EASTERN
ALL DATES & TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE
October
Sun. 10 @ Edmonton 8 p.m.
Mon. 11 @ Vancouver 10 p.m.
Thu. 14 @ Calgary 9 p.m.
Sat. 16 vs. Tampa Bay 7 p.m.
Thu. 21 vs. Dallas 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 23 vs. NY Islanders 7 p.m.
Tue. 26 @ Toronto 7 p.m.
Thu. 28 @ Ottawa 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 30 @ Montreal 7 p.m.
November
Wed. 3 vs. Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Fri. 5 vs. Carolina 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 6 @ Carolina 7 p.m.
Wed. 10 vs. Toronto 7:30 p.m.
Fri. 12 vs. Minnesota 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 13 @ Philadelphia 7 p.m.
Wed. 17 @ Atlanta 7 p.m.
Thu. 18 @ Boston 7 p.m.
Sat. 20 @ NY Islanders 7 p.m.
Mon. 22 vs. Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m.
Wed. 24 vs. Boston 7:30 p.m.
Fri. 26 vs. NY Rangers 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 27 @ Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m.
December
Wed. 1 @ Anaheim 10 p.m.
Thu. 2 @ Los Angeles 10:30 p.m.
Sat. 4 @ Phoenix 8 p.m.
Tue. 7 vs. Colorado 7:30 p.m.
Thu. 9 @ Washington 7 p.m.
Sat. 11 @ Nashville 8 p.m.
Wed. 15 vs. Carolina 7:30 p.m.
Fri. 17 vs. Buffalo 7:30 p.m.
Mon. 20 @ Philadelphia 7 p.m.
Wed. 22 @ Pittsburgh 7 p.m.
Thu. 23 @ Buffalo 7 p.m.
Mon. 27 vs. Boston 7:30 p.m.
Fri. 31 vs. Montreal 5 p.m.
January
Sun. 2 vs. NY Rangers 5 p.m.
Mon. 3 @ Carolina 7 p.m.
Wed. 5 vs. Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Fri. 7 vs. Carolina 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 8 @ Washington 7 p.m.
Tue. 11 vs. Washington 7:30 p.m.
Thu. 13 vs. Nashville 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 15 vs. New Jersey 7 p.m.
Mon. 17 vs. Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Wed. 19 vs. Columbus 7:30 p.m.
Fri. 21 vs. Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m.
Sun. 23 @ New Jersey 1 p.m.
Tue. 25 @ NY Rangers 7 p.m.
Wed. 26 @ Boston 7 p.m.
February
Tue. 1 @ Toronto 7 p.m.
Wed. 2 @ Montreal 7:30 p.m.
Fri. 4 @ New Jersey 7 p.m.
Tue. 8 vs. St. Louis 7:30 p.m.
Thu. 10 vs. Buffalo 7:30 p.m.
Sun. 13 vs. San Jose 5 p.m.
Wed. 16 vs. Philadelphia 7:30 p.m.
Fri. 18 vs. Detroit 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 19 @ Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m.
Mon. 21 @ NY Islanders 1 p.m.
Wed. 23 @ Ottawa 7:30 p.m.
Fri. 25 @ Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Sun. 27 vs. New Jersey 5 p.m.
March
Tue. 1 @ Carolina 7 p.m.
Thu. 3 vs. Montreal 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 5 @ Atlanta 7 p.m.
Sun. 6 vs. Washington 5 p.m.
Tue. 8 vs. Chicago 7:30 p.m.
Thu. 10 vs. Ottawa 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 12 vs. Tampa Bay 7 p.m.
Tue. 15 vs. Philadelphia 7:30 p.m.
Thu. 17 vs. Toronto 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 19 vs. NY Islanders 7 p.m.
Tue. 22 @ NY Rangers 7 p.m.
Wed. 23 @ Chicago 8:30 p.m.
Fri. 25 @ Buffalo 7 p.m.
Sun. 27 @ Pittsburgh 1 p.m.
Tue. 29 @ Columbus 7 p.m.
Thu. 31 vs. Ottawa 7:30 p.m.
April
Sat. 2 vs. Pittsburgh 7 p.m.
Wed. 6 @ Washington 7 p.m.
Fri. 8 @ Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 9 vs. Washington 7 p.m.
Didn't realize you're a Bruce fan!
Posted by: AC | June 22, 2010 at 10:52 PM
Mystery question- Why is Florida playing Nashville home and home for the 3rd straight NHL season.
An NHL team should do a home and home with every team in the other conference once every five years.
18 Western Conference games minus 15 W Conf. teams equals 3 extra games for these teams
3 divided into the 15 W conf. teams equals 5. If it is done right a East. Conference will play a West. Conference team at home and home every five years.
George, got a email address for someone at NHL HQ who does media inquiries. I'd like to ask why Florida keeps playing Nashville this way. Yes I blog the Florida Panthers. I'm the guy who reminded you Olli Jokinen came from the NY Islanders in the Roberto Luongo deal.
Posted by: Bill | June 24, 2010 at 02:41 PM