It's that time of year in the NHL. Drafts, awards, free agency, trade and... schedule releases.
And the Flyers and the NHL on Wednesday provided a small sample of this coming's seasons schedule to whet fans' appetites as they released home opener information.
Get your pajamas on and get ready to stay up late for the season opener again.
For the second straight season, the Flyers will open up on the West Coast, this time against the Sharks in San Jose on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
Last season, the Flyers opened the year in Los Angeles against the Kings, securing a 4-2 victory. They'll visit Hollywood on Oct. 5 to face L.A. again in its home opener.
The Flyers will also head deep into the heart of Smashville for the defending Western Conference champion Predators' home opener on Oct. 10.
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It sounds like a lengthy trip for the Flyers to open the season as their home opener won't come until the next weekend.
They announced they will host Metropolitan Division rival Washington Capitals in this year's home opener on Saturday, October 14 at Wells Fargo Center.
The Caps are coming off yet another President's Trophy winning season that ended with yet another thud with yet another early playoff exit, this one a seven-game loss to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round.
The Flyers, of course, did not qualify for the playoffs last season.
This will mark the fifth time the Flyers host the Capitals for a home opener. They are 4-0-1 in such contests. The last home opener vs. Washington came in 2009 when the Flyers won in overtime, 6-5. Mike Richards had a hat trick in that game and Danny Briere netted the OT winner. The Flyers went on to their most recent Stanley Cup Final appearance that year.
The NHL will announce the full regular-season slate at 3 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.
