This is the NHL's busy news week of the offseason: the NHL Awards, home openers, schedule release, and the draft this weekend. Today's release of the 2018-19 regular season schedule officially lays out the road map for the Blue Jackets, who seek a third straight playoff berth for the first time ever.
We know they open Thursday, Oct. 4 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit before returning to Columbus the following night for the home opener against Carolina at Nationwide Arena. After that, the Blue Jackets play nine more games in October before heading to California to kick off the month of November.
Here are some highlights and notable items:
- The Blue Jackets had 17 back-to-backs a year ago, and this time around, will have 16. The schedule does look a bit more balanced than it did last year but it's back-loaded with road games in February, March and April.
- Want some time off from the Jackets? You'll get it, in-season. Columbus takes a 10-day break from Jan. 19-29, the combination of their mandated bye week and the NHL's All-Star break. They'll play Jan. 19 in Minnesota and resume Jan. 29 at home against Buffalo.
- California trip: Nov. 1-4. Western Canada trip: Mar. 19-24.
- The Blue Jackets play a season-high six-game home stand from Dec. 8-20 at Nationwide Arena, and only two of those games (New Jersey, Washington) are against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Blue Jackets' lone trip to Vegas is Saturday (!), Feb. 9. Yes, that's Saturday.
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