:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5057679/136062535.jpg)
The Colorado Avalanche have finally announced their schedule for the upcoming 2012-2013 regular season. You can find the entire listed slate of games at NHL.com, but here are a few of the highlights:
Home Opener
October 11, 2012 vs St. Louis Blues - Last season's surprise team from St. Louis opens the season in Denver, including old friends Kevin Shattenkirk, Chris Stewart, and Brian Elliott.
Rough Road Trip
December 4 through December 14 - The Avalanche set out on their longest road trip of the season, a five city trip that begins in Detroit and New York before heading down south to face both Florida teams and the Carolina Hurricanes -- a round trip covering over 5,700 miles in a span of nine days. Whew.
Home Heavy Finish
Exactly the opposite of the 2011-2012 season, the schedule makers have decided that Colorado deserves plenty of home games to finish the season push towards the postseason. Not only does Colorado enjoy their longest homestand of the season in March (a critical five game stretch against playoff hopefuls in Dallas, Detroit, and Chicago), but 10 of the last 15 games of the year will take place in Pepsi Center.
Other Home Games of Note:
November 17 vs Montreal Canadians - Former Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj makes his return to Pepsi Center.
November 21 vs Toronto Maple Leafs - John-Michael Liles plays in Denver for the first time since being traded shortly before the 2011 Draft.
December 2 vs Los Angeles Kings - The Stanley Cup champions make their first trip to Denver. The Avalanche swept the Kings in all four games during the 2011-2012 season
January 19 vs New York Rangers - Colorado faces last year's top seed in the East and Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist.
February 28 vs New Jersey Devils - The Eastern Conference champions make their only visit to Pepsi Center.
April 13 vs Detroit Red Wings - Colorado closes out the regular season with a game against their archrivals from Motown.
For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey. Visit SB Nation NHL for complete NHL schedule breakdowns.