New Start Times, Visits From Old Rivals Highlight 2010-11 Schedule
For the first time in seven seasons, the Red Wings will play host to all five Original Six rivals at Joe Louis Arena. And they'll do so with a new weeknight start time – for 34 of the 41 home games – at 7 p.m. ET.
News of the Original Six home dates highlights the NHL's release of the 2010-11 schedule for the Red Wings' 85th season. The last time the Red Wings played all five opponents in the same season was in 2002-03. The Wings will host six of the eight Eastern Conference teams that reached the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, including Washington, Pittsburgh and New Jersey.
The Red Wings will play seven home games against Original Six teams, including three games with the Central Division rivals and Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. The Wings will also host Montreal (Dec. 10), New York Rangers (Feb. 7), Boston (Feb. 13), and Toronto (March 26).
Besides their home opener, the Red Wings will participate in three other Opening Nights -- at Chicago (Oct. 9), Dallas (Oct. 14) and Phoenix (Oct. 16).
The Red Wings will again host their traditional New Year's Eve game when they welcome the New York Islanders to JLA. The Red Wings have only hosted the Islanders once before on the Dec. 31 tradition. New York won that game in 1985 when rookie left winger Mikko Makela scored at 53-seconds of overtime against Wings goalie Mark LaForest before 18,017 fans at JLA.
The Wings boast a 33-22-8 record on New Year's Eve, a tradition that dates back to 1927.
