By @MichaelCaples and @StefanKubus –
Fans can now plan out their first (and 41st) visit to Little Caesars Arena.
The National Hockey League released the full 2017-18 season schedule today, which means the Red Wings now know when teams will roll through their new building in Detroit.
It was announced Wednesday that the Wings’ home opener – and season opener – would be on Oct. 5 against Minnesota. Now, we know all of the other 81 regular-season contests.
The NHL season officially starts the day before – Oct. 4.
Little Caesars Arena will host 17 weekend home games (five Fridays, seven Saturdays and five Sundays) all the way until the regular-season finale at home on Saturday, April 7 against the New York Islanders.
Detroit will head on the road right after their debut at LCA for a four-game trip including a stop at Las Vegas to play the Golden Knights on Friday, Oct. 13.
It’s a road-heavy start, with only five home games in October for the Wings. Starting on Nov. 11 against Columbus, the Wings will have a stretch of five home games, one away game in New York, and then three more home games to round out the second month of the season.
Detroit has another five-game stretch in Dec. for their two longest home stands – they will be home from Dec. 5 through Dec. 15.
Some notable dates:
- Oct. 5 – Detroit vs. Minnesota – home opener and first regular season game at Little Caesars Arena
- Oct. 6 – Vegas @ Dallas – first game in Golden Knights history
- Oct. 10 – Vegas vs. Arizona – first home game in Las Vegas franchise history
- Oct. 13 – Detroit @ Vegas – first game for the Wings in Las Vegas
- Oct. 18 – Detroit @ Toronto – first meeting of the season
- Oct. 31 – Detroit vs. Arizona – Halloween
- Nov. 11 – Detroit vs. Columbus – Zach Werenski, Jack Johnson and the Blue Jackets check out LCA
- Nov. 22 – Detroit vs. Edmonton – Connor McDavid comes to town
- Nov. 25 – Detroit vs. New Jersey – Potential 2017 No. 1 draft pick comes to town
- Nov. 30 – Detroit vs. Montreal
- Dec. 5 – Detroit vs. Winnipeg – Andrew Copp, Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor visit Detroit
- Dec. 13 – Detroit vs. Boston – Torey Krug comes through town
- Dec. 24-26 – Christmas break
- Dec. 31 – Detroit vs. Pittsburgh – Red Wings welcome the two-time defending champs on New Year’s Eve
- Jan. 25 – Detroit vs. Chicago – The Blackhawks make their first trip to LCA
- Jan. 26-29 – NHL All-Star Weekend (Tampa, Fla.)
- March 8 – Detroit vs. Vegas – Red Wings welcome the Golden Knights to the LCA for the first time ever
- April 7 – Detroit vs. NY Islanders – regular-season finale