NHL Releases Official Regular-Season Schedule for 2012-2013

What better way to follow up one of the best, most exciting Stanley Cup playoffs in recent memory, and the NHL awards show on Wednesday night, than to give the fans the official schedule for the 2012-13 regular season?

The full schedule can be found on NHL.com.

The league released the schedule early Thursday morning. The season starts on Thursday, October 11 with four games. The marquee matchup on opening night is between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center. 

Following up that opening night will be five games on Friday, including the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings hosting the New York Rangers. 

NBC Sports will televise L.A.'s home opener. As for last year's runner-up, the New Jersey Devils will open the season on October 13 against the Bruins. The Devils and Kings will play again, with much less at stake this time around, on February 9 in New Jersey. 

Of course, as we learn every year in the Stanley Cup playoffs, where a team finishes in the regular season doesn't mean all that much. As long as it's one of the 16 teams to earn a playoff berth, it has a chance to win a championship. 

The Kings got in by the skin of their teeth last season, yet they were able to ride the goaltending of Jonathan Quick all the way to the ultimate prize.  

That's the beauty of hockey. More so than any other sport, any team that makes it to the postseason has an actual chance of winning it all.

For all 30 teams, next season's journey begins on October 11. 

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