ARLINGTON — For the second straight year, the Washington Capitals will be present for a Stanley Cup banner-raising when they visit the new champion St. Louis Blues on opening night of the 2019-20 NHL season, Oct. 2.
The Capitals’ season opener and home opener — Oct. 5 against the Carolina Hurricanes — were announced last week. On Tuesday, the full NHL schedule was released, revealing a tough early slate for Washington.
Four of the Capitals’ first six games are on the road, after which they’ll have to take a five-game road trip to Chicago, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto — all before the first month of the season is out. Meanwhile, Washington will only have one homestand longer than three games with a four-game stretch Feb. 2-10 against the Penguins, Kings, Flyers and Islanders.
Eight of the Capitals’ 12 back-to-backs will pop up before the All-Star break in late January. Washington will have off Jan. 19-26, with the All-Star Game taking place Jan. 26 in St. Louis.
The TV schedule was not included in the announcement, but it’s a safe bet the Capitals-Blues game on opening night will be a nationally televised affair.
Other notable games include a home game against Barry Trotz and the Islanders at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, and a 12:30 p.m. home tilt with the Penguins on Super Bowl Sunday.
The final home game of the regular season is Thursday, April 2 against Minnesota, followed two days later by the season finale at Florida.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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