RELATED View Complete 2011-12 Schedule View 2011-12 Schedule Breakdown

The Edmonton Oilers will open at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday, October 9. The Oilers’ October schedule will also see them host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, October 15, followed by visits for the first time in two years by the New York Rangers on Saturday, October 22, and the Washington Capitals on Thursday, October 27.

"There is always a great deal of anticipation and excitement when we start the season,” stated Oilers General Manager Steve Tambellini. "I know our team and our fans will have those dates circled, along with the other five October home games in our first month."

Once again, this season’s schedule will see the Oilers play six games (three home and three away) against each of their Northwest Division opponents – the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild – for a total of 24 games.
 
The Oilers will play four games against each of the remaining teams in the Western Conference, facing the Central Division and Pacific Division opponents twice at home and twice on the road for a total of 40 games.

Rounding out their 82-game schedule, the Oilers will play 18 games against Eastern Conference opponents, including five games against the Atlantic Division, eight games against the Northeast Division, and five versus the Southeast Division.

This year’s home schedule will again feature two games against each of the Oilers’ three Eastern Canadian rivals: the Ottawa Senators are in Edmonton on Thursday, November 17, the Toronto Maple Leafs visit on Wednesday, February 15, and the Montreal Canadiens play at Rexall Place Thursday, March 8. The Oilers travel to MTS Centre for one game on Monday, February 27 against the league’s newest team, Winnipeg.

"We really think the fans will like the mix of our mid-week and weekend opponents at Rexall Place this year,” said Oilers President and CEO Patrick LaForge. “The Blackhawks are here on a Saturday, November 19, we play the Flames for the first time on December 3, which is always a big night, and we have the Leafs and the Canadiens in Edmonton mid-week. Our fans also have 15 games on Thursday and Friday nights at Rexall so it’s a very good balance."

The Oilers will have one six-game home stand this year. From November 28 to December 9, Edmonton will entertain Nashville, Minnesota, Columbus, Calgary, Carolina and Colorado. Due to the 2012 World Junior Championship being held in Edmonton and Calgary, the team will have a seven-game road trip starting December 26 through January 7 with stops in Vancouver, Minnesota, New York Islanders, Chicago, Buffalo, St. Louis, and Dallas. Edmonton will also have a six-game road swing November 3 to November 13 where they will play LA, Phoenix, Montreal, Boston, Detroit and Chicago.

Edmonton plays in 12 back-to-back games this season as well as eight afternoon games with one at Rexall Place on Saturday, February 25 at 2:00 p.m. versus the Phoenix Coyote

Edmonton Oilers hockey is presented in part by the Rexall Family of Pharmacies, Molson Canadian, ATB Financial, Cenovus Energy and Ford.