Los Angeles Kings: 10 Highlights on the Stanley Cup Champs' 2012-13 Schedule

Too bad the Los Angeles Kings—Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, John Stevens and all―will not be visiting the Philadelphia Flyers next season amidst their defense of the Stanley Cup.

Other than that, there is no shortage of dates for the L.A. fanbase to underline. That is assuming all goes according to plan and the 2012-13 season schedule is played exactly as released on Thursday.

The franchise’s first-ever Cup banner shall be raised on Friday, Oct. 12 prior to a tilt with the New York Rangers, the same team that entertained L.A.’s season opener overseas last October and a primordial favorite to take the Kings’ crown in 2013.

The regular-season slate will conclude on Saturday, April 13 with the sixth and final installment of the Southern California rivalry as the Anaheim Ducks visit the Staples Center.

Among the 80 contests in between, the following eight each ought to garner a little extra attention.

Saturday, October 27 vs. Phoenix

The first Kings-Coyotes encounter since the divisional rivals clashed for the conference title.

Saturday, October 30 at St. Louis

The Kings’ first visit to the Central Division champion Blues since sweeping them out of the second round of the playoffs.

Thursday, November 8 vs. Vancouver

The two-time President’s Trophy-winning Canucks venture into the champions’ abode for the first time since they were zapped in overtime in Game 5 of the conference quarterfinals.

Monday, December 17 at Boston

Just as it was in the NBA in 2009-10, the NHL’s last two champions reside in Los Angeles and Boston. And this will be their only regular season meeting at the Bruins' den.

Thursday, December 20-Wednesday, January 2

There will be no time like this two-week stretch for the Kings to make precious headway in the Pacific Division title derby. They will wrap their schedule around the holidays by conducting three consecutive home-and-home sets with the Sharks, Coyotes and Ducks.

The Dec. 27 visit to Jobing.com Arena will be their first since Dustin Penner’s overtime goal punched out the Coyotes in the Western Conference Finals.

Thursday, January 3 vs. Philadelphia

One night after their visit to Anaheim, the Kings will host the Flyers in Carter’s first clash with his former mates and the start of a season-high seven-game homestand.

Saturday, February 9

As part of a five-game road trip to the Northeast, the Kings will drop in on the Prudential Center for a matinee Stanley Cup Finals rematch with the New Jersey Devils. Sandwiching that game will be two other titanic tangles with the Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sunday, February 17

The Kings’ two road installments of their season series with the Canucks will take place 11 nights apart, the first being 6 p.m. faceoff at Rogers Arena, where Jarret Stoll’s overtime strike zapped Vancouver this past April.