Eurolanche

Avalanche Announces 2015-16 Schedule

The National Hockey League announced its 2015-16 regular season schedule today, with the Colorado Avalanche set to open the franchise’s 20th season in Denver on Thursday, Oct. 8, against the Minnesota Wild at Pepsi Center. 

The Avalanche’s 2015-16 schedule is highlighted by the Coors Light NHL Stadium Series outdoor game against the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 27.  The event, which will be held at Coors Field, will be the first-ever NHL outdoor game in the state of Colorado. 

The Avalanche will begin the season with three straight home games, facing Minnesota on Oct. 8, Dallas on Oct. 10 and Boston on Oct. 14. The three-game homestand matches the franchise’s longest-ever to begin a season, as the 1998-99 squad also opened with three straight at home.

This marks the second consecutive year that Colorado will face Minnesota in the season opener. The last opponent to meet the Avalanche in back-to-back openers was the Dallas Stars in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Colorado will play a total of 28 games versus its division foes, facing Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis and Winnipeg five times each, while meeting Chicago and Dallas four times.

The Avs will play 22 games against the Pacific Division, meeting each of the opponents three times with the exception of San Jose, who they will play four times. Colorado will have 32 total games against teams from the Eastern Conference, facing all 16 clubs twice (once at home).

The Avalanche’s schedule includes 17 home "weekend" games, hosting four on Friday, 10 on Saturday (including outdoor game) and three on Sunday. The Avs will conclude the 2015-16 schedule at home on Saturday, April 9 against Anaheim.

The Avalanche will have a seven-game road trip from Nov. 10-23, equaling the club’s longest journey since the franchise moved to Denver. The Avs also had a seven-game trip from Oct. 8-21, 2009.  The Avalanche’s longest homestand of the year is five games, Dec. 31 to Jan. 8.  

Colorado will play a total of nine back-to-back games this season after having 12 in 2014-15. The Avs will host a New Year’s Eve game for the third straight year, as they welcome the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 31.  The Blackhawks will also visit Pepsi Center on Feb. 2. 

The complete broadcast schedule, including Altitude Sports & Entertainment telecasts, and information regarding the on-sale dates for preseason and regular season tickets will be released in the near future. 

--Avalanche Press Release--

Early games for European fans (time in CET):

November 1st – Colorado vs. San Jose at 9 pm

December 13th  – St. Louis vs. Colorado at 12 am

February 14th – Buffalo vs. Colorado at 6:30 pm

March 5th – Colorado vs. Nashville at 9 pm

March 26 – Colorado vs. Minnesota at 9 pm

April 9 – Colorado vs. Anaheim at 11:30 pm

Eurolanche.com will publish Avalanche's schedule in CET at its website in the section SCHEDULE that may be find over the Game box.