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Hot on the heels of one of the most unpredictable postseasons in recent history, the NHL just recently released the schedule for the upcoming 2019-20 season.

Even though we’re still three months away from regular hockey, it’s never too early to look towards the future. Here’s everything you need to know.

How long is the NHL season?

The NHL regular season is 82 games long and runs from October 2, 2019, through April 4, 2020. Playoffs typically start within a few days of the conclusion of the regular season and culminate with the Stanley Cup Finals in early June.

Are there any special games being played this year?

Absolutely. Over the past decade, the NHL has been committed to coming up with unique fan experiences for regular season games – including holding regular season games at outdoor stadiums. This upcoming season will be a treat for those who enjoy watching outdoor hockey as the league has scheduled three different outdoor games.

For the 2019-20 season, the NHL is continuing its tradition of playing the outdoor Winter Classic game on New Year’s Day. This season’s tilt is particularly interesting as it’s taking place at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX, making it the first time that a Winter Classic game will be held in the Southern part of the United States. This season’s matchup will feature the Dallas Stars taking on the Nashville Predators, two teams that have never played in the Winter Classic before.

In addition to the Winter Classic, the league is set to host its fifth-ever Heritage Classic, which is an outdoor game played in Canada between two Canadian-based NHL teams. This year’s matchup will take place on October 26 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, SK, between the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets.

The third and final outdoor game, which is a part of the league’s Stadium Series, will take place at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, CO – home of the Air Force Falcons football program. This game is scheduled for February 20 between the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche.

On top of the three outdoor games, the league is also debuting their NHL Global series with a trio of regular season games that will be played early in the season in Europe. On October 4, the Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks will play their regular season-opener at the O2 Arena in Prague, which is in the Czech Republic. One month later, the Sabres and Lightning will travel across the pond two play two games at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden.

When and where is the NHL All-Star game set to take place?

The 2020 NHL All-Star game will take place on January 26, 2020, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO – home of the defending champion Blues.

What are some of the must-see matchups?

San Jose Sharks at Vegas Golden Knights | 10/2/2019
Hockey fans won’t have to wait long to see one of the most anticipated matchups of the year, as the San Jose Sharks will square off against the Vegas Golden Knights on the opening night of the season. These two teams had a series for the ages in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs in 2019, which saw the Sharks vanquish the Knights in 7 games. Game 7 was one of the craziest hockey games in recent memory, as the Sharks were able to score four goals on a single 5-minute major power-play after trailing by three goals late in the game. SHOP TICKETS

New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils | 10/17/2019
Separated by a span of just ten miles and the Hudson River, the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils have developed quite a rivalry since first playing each other back in 1982.

After missing the playoffs last year, both the Rangers and Devils made significant changes to their roster in hopes of turning things around. The Rangers acquired defenseman Jacob Trouba from the Jets, signed coveted free agent winger Artemi Panarin and selected forward Jack Hughes with the number one overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft.

The Devils had a fine offseason as well as they were able to acquire former Norris trophy winning defenseman P.K. Subban from Nashville in addition to selecting talented winger Kaapo Kakko with the second overall pick in the draft.

Both teams are trending upwards which means the Hudson River rivalry will be a must-watch matchup for the foreseeable future. SHOP TICKETS

St. Louis Blues at Boston Bruins | 10/26/2019
One early-season matchup worth circling on your calendar takes place on October 26th when the St. Louis Blues will travel to Boston to take on the Bruins in a rematch of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals. This has all the makings of an intense matchup as the two teams faced-off in an old-time hockey series that included two players getting suspended. Boston will be looking for revenge, having watched the Blues celebrate winning the Championship at the TD Garden just a few months prior. SHOP TICKETS

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