About 48 hours after it was supposed to be announced, the NHL finally released it’s 2013-14 regular season schedule. This of course included the 82 games that the Oilers will take part in this season, and it’s one of the most variety filled ones in recent memory.
The Oilers will make stops in all 29 NHL cities this season, while all other 29 teams will pay at least one visit to Rexall Place. It all gets started on October 1st against the Jets.
Here’s Edmonton’s schedule, which can be seen at this link compliments the Oilers official website. I’d post it, but as you can imagine it’s pretty lengthy and would take up most of the post! Here it is: http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=678251&navid=DL|EDM|home
The Highlights:
October 1st (Winnipeg + CBC debut): Edmonton opens up with a visit from the Winnipeg Jets, the first time a team from Winnipeg has entered Rexall since 1996. The Oilers will be the third and final game of that NHL kick-off night, and the game can be seen on CBC. Building will no doubt be rocking for this one!
October 5th (First Vancouver Game): In game two of the season Edmonton travels to Vancouver for the first of five games between the rivals during the regular season, and the first of three in British Columbia. The Oilers and Canucks were pretty even last season year.
October 10th (Habs Visit): Montreal pays one of their rare visits to Rexall Place on this night, and it marks the first visit from an original six franchise during the season.
October 29th (Leafs Visit): Toronto makes their lone visit to Rexall on this night, as new head coach Dallas Eakins gets his second shot at his former organization. PLEASE Oiler fans, pack Rexall and don’t let the unbearable Leaf fans in!!!!
November 13th (Dallas Visit): Shawn Horcoff makes his return to Edmonton with the Stars, who will also feature 2010 2nd overall pick Tyler Seguin. It’s Taylor V. Tyler part three.
November 16th (BOA Round One): This one is on the road, but it’s round one of the Battle Of Alberta. After splitting last season’s set, the Oilers will need to win this season’s to have any real shot at the playoffs.
November 25th (Hawks): The defending champs come rolling into Rexall for the only time during the season. Edmonton went 1-1-1 against the Hawks last year, and has had some real success against these guys for some reason.
December 10th (Carolina): 2006 Stanley Cup rematch, and while neither team has done well recently, this game still means something to Oilers fans….Well to me it does at least.
January 10th (Pens): Crosby, Malkin, Letang and the high-flying Penguins make their lone visit to Rexall in the second meeting of the season between the two sides. Oilers last beat Pittsburgh on opening night in 2011.
February 1st (@ Boston): New defender Andrew Ference makes his emotional return to the city of Boston, where he was a key member in the community and won the cup in 2011…..This one is special for me because it will be my first in-person Oilers game since their last visit to the Bean!
March 30th (Rangers): Always a big hit, the Rangers visit Rexall on the 30th of March. They bring familiar face Glen Sather along too, and this could be a pretty big game for both teams late in the season. It is Edmonton’s last eastern conference opponent of the season.
The Breakdown: I’m loving this schedule for the most part. The Oilers open up with a great match-up against the Jets at home. It’s something different, and should bring an added level of excitement to the rink that night. Both Montreal and New Jersey make early visits too, as the Oilers get these eastern teams out of the way early.
The Oil have a season long six game road trip right off the bat that starts on October 12th in Toronto. It will take the Oilers through there, Washington, Pittsburgh, New York (Isles),Ottawa and Montreal. A lot of competitive teams and a tough stretch to start the year no doubt. That road trip could go very bad for this team and put them in a big hole early, or it could be exactly what a team with a lot of new faces needed.
The Oilers play on American Thanksgiving as well this season, which has become a very rare thing that the NHL has usually avoided the last few seasons. They’ll be in Nashville that night to kick off a three game road trip.
The Oilers play a season long five game home-stand in December starting on the 3rd and ending on the 12th. They’ll face the Coyotes, Av’s, Flames, Hurricanes and Bruins in that stretch.
The Oilers are road heavy during October and November, but make up for it big time at the end of the season.
The Oilers luck out with ten out of 14 games in March at home, and four out of seven at home in April. For those scoring at home, that’s 15 of their final 22 at home. If they can take advantage of that, the Oilers will be set-up nicely to sneak into the playoffs.
For the Oilers, they have the very tough task of starting out with a lengthy road trip. If new coach Dallas Eakins can use this as a bonding experience for all his new faces, it could be a major blessing, but if not the Oilers could be in a major hole before the season even gets going.
The insane amount of late season home games could be a big advantage too if the Oilers can use the home ice advantage. With so many home divisional games late, it could make a difference when determining who gets to the dance.
One thing is certain, a hot start and decent road trip right off the bat is KEY. I’ll be back tomorrow with a few thoughts on the upcoming Sam Gagner arbitration case. In the meantime, follow me on twitter @Alex_Thomas14
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