The NHL officially released the 2014-15 schedule. The season begins on Wednesday, October 8 with four games. Montreal will visit Toronto renewing their historic rivalry. The Flyers pay a visit to Boston in another unique rivalry. The Flames will host the Canucks in a unique Western Canadian match-up. In what’s sure to be an emotional scene, the Kings will raise their Stanley Cup banner against archrival San Jose. The Sharks will be seething after blowing a 3-0 first round lead.

On Thursday October 9, three of four Battle Of New York clubs will be in action. The Devils renew acquaintances with the Flyers in Philadelphia. At the same time, the Rangers start at St. Louis against one of the West’s best. While both the Devils and Rangers start on the road, the Sabres are home for the Blue Jackets. All three games are 7 EST. Depending on who you root for, that’s the one you’ll have circled. Well, aside from channel flipping between commercials.

The Islanders kickoff their season in Raleigh Friday, October 10 when they visit the Hurricanes. The two teams will meet on consecutive days in a home-and-home with the Islanders playing host to Carolina on Saturday, October 11 at Nassau Coliseum. The Isles will visit the Rangers at MSG on October 14 at 7 PM. It’ll be their only meeting in the first three months with the remaining four all in 2015. The teams see each other twice in January with the Rangers hosting the Islanders on 1/13 and then visiting Long Island on 1/27. The Islanders have the final three meetings at home including February 16 and March 10.

After starting the season with a four-game road trip including stops in Philadelphia, Florida, Tampa and Washington, the Devils return to Newark for their home opener on Saturday, October 18 against the Sharks. Their first meeting versus the Rangers is Tuesday 10/21 at The Prudential Center at 7 PM. The Hudson rivals play only four times due to the unbalanced schedule. The Devils visit MSG on December 27. The teams don’t meet again until the final week when they play twice in a four-day span. The Rangers host the Devils on April 4 and then visit Newark April 7. Following that game, their final two games are a Florida swing with stops in Tampa 4/9 and the Panthers 4/11.

One of the best aspects of the schedule is all 30 teams will be in action the final day of the season. Unlike past years, everyone will conclude on Saturday, April 11. A new wrinkle that should make playoff races more exciting. Among the match-ups, the Rangers will visit the Caps at 3 PM. The Sabres host the Penguins at 7 PM while the Islanders battle the Blue Jackets in the final game at Nassau Coliseum. The Devils conclude at Florida. Out of Conference, other intriguing match-ups include the Avalanche hosting the Blackhawks, the Wild visiting the Blues, the Predators at the Stars, Ducks visiting the Coyotes and the Sharks reuniting with the Kings at Staples Center for a special 3 PM game on Hockey Night In Canada. The NBC schedule hasn’t been revealed yet.

For the Rangers, they’ll see the Kings in a Stanley Cup rematch on January 8 at Staples Center. That’ll be the middle part of a three-game California swing with stops in Anaheim 1/7 and San Jose 1/10. At the start of the season, the Blueshirts will follow a two-game road trip at St. Louis and Columbus with a four-game homestand against Toronto 10/12, the Islanders 10/14, Carolina 10/17 and San Jose 10/19. Their first game against the Canadiens is 10/25 on HNIC in Bell Centre. Amazingly, Montreal fans are still bitter about Chris Kreider. As if he intentionally hurt Carey Price. Figure that to be a chaotic environment. Eleven of their first 16 games are at home including a four-game homestand versus Minnesota, Winnipeg, St. Louis and Detroit. After a visit a traditional visit in Toronto for Hockey Hall Of Fame weekend November 8, they see Edmonton, Pittsburgh and Colorado at home. Their first game against the Flyers is also at MSG 11/19. The rivals also play a back-to-back after Thanksgiving with the Rangers in Philly on Black Friday and the Flyers at MSG (11/28-29). On Turkey Eve, they’ll be in Tampa.

On Monday, December 8 they host the Penguins on my birthday. Following it, they embark on a four-game road swing including stops in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary between 12/13-16. The final game is in Raleigh 12/20 followed by a home date 12/21 against the Canes. On New Year’s Eve, the Blueshirts celebrate where else but Florida. At the end of January, Montreal and Carolina invade MSG followed by the Panthers and Bruins at the beginning of February. The Rangers will be away a lot the final part of the season including a challenging five-game road trip between March 4-14 at Detroit, Chicago, Islanders, Washington and Buffalo. Following a Cup rematch on Dad’s birthday March 24 at MSG, six of the remaining 10 will be on the road including an odd two-game trip at Winnipeg and Minnesota before returning home for the Devils and Jackets. Their final three games are at New Jersey, home for Ottawa and at Washington.

Further breaking it down, the Rangers have 13 back-to-backs. They are:

Oct. 11 @ Columbus

Oct. 12 vs Toronto

Nov. 8 @ Toronto

Nov. 9 vs Edmonton

Nov. 28 @ Flyers

Nov. 29 vs Flyers

Dec. 13 @ Vancouver

Dec. 14 @ Edmonton

Dec. 20 @ Carolina

Dec. 21 vs Carolina

Jan. 7 @ Anaheim

Jan. 8 @ LA Kings

Jan. 15 @ Boston

Jan. 16 @ Columbus

Feb. 7 @ Nashville

Feb. 8 vs Dallas

Mar. 10 @ Islanders

Mar. 11 @ Washington

Mar. 14 @ Sabres

Mar. 15 vs Florida

Mar. 21 @ Carolina

Mar. 22 vs Anaheim

Mar. 28 @ Boston

Mar. 29 vs Washington

Apr. 6 vs Columbus

Apr. 7 @ Devils