NHL to open season with Tampa Bay Lightning-New York Rangers rematch

The NHL will open its 2022-23 regular season on Oct. 11 with a heavyweight double-header, featuring an Eastern Conference Final rematch between Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers and Pacific Division clash of Los Angeles and Vegas.

That and more was revealed Wednesday afternoon when the NHL unveiled its entire schedule for the upcoming year.

In a break with tradition, the reigning Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche aren't on the league's opening slate. Ball Arena was previously booked for a concert on Oct. 11, so the Avalanche will raise their Cup banner to the rafters on Oct. 12 before facing the Chicago Blackhawks.

Colorado defeated the Lightning in Game 6 of the Cup Final last month to earn their first title since 2001 and block Tampa Bay's hopes of repeating a third time as league champs. Those two will see each other twice in a week during the regular season, on Feb. 9 at Tampa Bay and Feb. 14 at Colorado.

That's right after the NHL's All-Star Break is worked in from Feb. 2-5. The annual skills competition and star-filled game will take place at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida from Feb. 3-4.

The league's annual slate of outdoor games continues as well. The Winter Classic takes place on Jan. 2 between Boston and Pittsburgh at Fenway Park, and Carolina will host Washington on Feb. 18 at NC State's Carter-Finlay Stadium in Raleigh for a Stadium Series matchup.

Additionally, the NHL is bringing back its Global Series that will take four clubs across the pond. Nashville and San Jose play their season-opening games on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic. Columbus and Colorado will face each other in a back-to-back at Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland on Nov. 4 and Nov. 5.

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