Mon 9/22 at Philadelphia 7 PM

Wed 9/24 Rangers 7 PM

Sat 9/27 at Rangers 2 PM

Mon 9/29 Capitals 7 PM

Wed 10/1 at Islanders 7 PM

Fri 10/3 Islanders 7 PM

Sat 10/4 Philadelphia 7 PM

All Devils home games (in bold) will be played at the Prudential Center and their three road contests will be at the Wachovia Center, MSG and Nassau Colliseum respectively.

As for the other locals, follow the links below to find out where and who your team’s playing in the preseason:

New York Rangers - News: Rangers announce 2008 preseason schedule - 07/29/2008

New York Islanders - News: NYI Pre-Season Schedule Announced - 07/31/2008

The NHL will officially announce their full 2008-09 schedule tomorrow at 3 PM but bits and pieces have already been leaked.  Mark Thursday, October 9 on your calendar as the day the NHL season officially begins (well in North America anyway), though none of those games have been announced yet. 

According to Tom Gulutti, the Devils will play their season and home opener against the New York Islanders on Friday, October 10 - which is also the Islanders’ first game of the season.  New Jersey will follow that up with a visit to Pittsburgh the next night, possibly the home opener for the Eastern Conference Champions.  Other confirmed games for the Devils include home and away dates with the Kings (via the Kings’ website) on January 10th in LA and February 7th at the Rock, and a December 31st matchup in Dallas against Sean Avery’s new team, the Stars.  LA, Dallas and Chicago will be the three teams from the Western Conference that the Devils match up with twice.

As far as the other locals, the Islanders’ home opener is Saturday, October 11 against the St. Louis Blues, the day after their season opener.  Of course, the Rangers will open with an overseas ‘home-and-home’ with the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 4th and 5th.  The only other Ranger-related scheduling note I can report as of now is that they also are playing Dallas twice, proving the NHL has a sense of humor by scheduling Avery for two games each against his favorite nemesis and former team.

In other related scheduling news, the NHL has announced its third outdoor game - and second in the US - for January 1, 2009 12 PM at Wrigley Field between two original six teams, the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks. 

And proving the NHL can at least get it right some of the time, all the Canadian teams from the Eastern Conference (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto) are having a home-and-home with the Canadian teams in the Western Conference (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton).

From Tom Gulitti’s Blog. All games Televised on MSG/MSG+ Locally:

Game 1: At Prudential Center, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Game 2: At Prudential Center, Friday, 7 p.m.

Game 3: At Madison Square Garden, Sunday, April 13, 7 p.m.

Game 4: At Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, April 16, 7 p.m.

Game 5: At Prudential Center, Friday, April 18, 7:30 p.m.*

Game 6: At Madison Square Garden, Sunday, April 20, TBA*

Game 7: At Prudential Center, Tuesday, April 22, TBA*

*If necessary

Here it is, all 3 teams. Comprised into one, easy-to-read docket. Plan your trips and whatnot. Have a good rest of the night!

Oct. 4

FLA vs. NYR, 7PM
NJ vs. TB, 7:30PM

Oct. 5

NYI vs. BUF, 7:30PM

Oct. 6

NYR vs. OTT, 7PM
BUF vs. NYI, 7PM
NJ vs. FLA, 7PM

Oct. 8

WSH vs. NYI, 2PM
NJ vs. OTT, 3PM

Oct. 10

NYR vs. NYI, 7PM

Oct. 11

NYI vs. TOR, 7PM
NJ vs. FLA, 7:30PM

Oct. 12

WSH vs. NYR, 7PM

Oct. 13

OTT vs. NYR, 7PM
NYI vs. PHI, 7PM

NJ vs. ATL, 7PM

Oct. 17

NJ vs. PIT, 7:30PM

Oct. 18

NJ vs. PHI, 7:00PM
NYI vs. WSH, 7PM
NYR vs. ATL, 7PM

Oct. 20

NJ vs. NYI, 7PM
NYR vs. BOS, 7PM

Oct. 23

NYR vs. PIT, 7PM

Oct. 25

NJ vs. NYR, 7PM

Oct. 27

OTT vs. NJ, 7PM
CAR vs. NYI, 7PM
TOR vs. NYR, 7PM

Oct. 29

TB vs. NYR, 7PM

Oct. 31

TB vs. NJ, 7PM

Nov. 1

TB vs. NYI, 7PM
WSH vs. NYR, 7PM

Nov. 2

TOR vs. NJ, 7PM

Nov. 3

PIT vs. NYI, 7PM
NJ vs. NYR, 7PM

Nov. 5

PIT vs. NJ, 7PM
PHI vs. NYR, 7PM

Nov. 6

NYR vs. NYI, 7PM

Nov. 8

PHI vs. NJ, 7PM
PIT vs. NYR, 7PM

Nov. 10

NYR vs. TOR, 7PM
NJ vs. NYI, 7PM

Nov. 12

NYI vs. PHI, 7PM
NJ vs. PIT, 7PM

Nov. 14

NYR vs. NJ, 7PM

Nov. 15

NYR vs. PHI, 7PM
NYI vs. PIT, 7:30PM

Nov. 16

NYI vs. NJ, 7PM

Nov. 17

NJ vs. PHI, 7PM
NYR vs. PIT, 7:30PM

Nov. 19

NYI vs. NYR, 7PM

Nov. 21

MTL vs. NYI, 7PM

NJ vs. PIT, 7:30 PM

NYR vs. TB, 7:30 PM

Nov. 23

NYI vs. BOS, 12:00 PM
NJ vs. ATL, 7:30 PM
NYR vs. FLA, 7:30 PM

Nov. 24

BOS vs. NYI, 7:00 PM
NJ vs. TB, 7:30 PM

Nov. 25

DAL vs. NYR, 1:00 PM

Nov. 26

DAL vs. NYI, 7PM

Nov. 28

DAL vs. NJ, 7PM

OTT vs. NYI, 7PM

Nov. 29

NYI vs. NYR, 7PM

Nov. 30

MTL vs. NJ, 7PM

Dec. 1

NYR vs. OTT, 3PM
ATL vs. NYI, 7PM

Dec. 2

ATL vs. NJ, 5PM

Dec. 3

BOS vs. NYI, 7PM
CAR vs. NYR, 7PM

Dec. 5

BOS vs. NJ, 7PM
NYI vs. ATL, 7PM

Dec. 6

TOR vs. NYR, 7PM

Dec. 7

WSH vs. NJ, 7PM
NYR vs. ATL, 7:30 PM
NYI vs. FLA, 7:30PM

Dec. 8

NYI vs. TB, 7:30 PM

Dec. 9

NJ vs. NYR, 5PM

Dec. 10

NJ vs. WSH, 7PM

Dec. 12

NYI vs. BUF, 7PM
NYR vs. WSH, 7PM

Dec. 13

NJ vs. BOS, 7PM
PHX vs. NYI, 7PM

Dec. 15

PHX vs. NJ, 7PM
PIT vs. NYI, 7PM

Dec. 16

PHI vs. NJ, 7PM
PHX vs. NYR, 7PM

Dec. 18

PIT vs. NYR, 7PM
NJ vs. VAN, 10PM

Dec. 19

BUF vs. NYI, 7PM

Dec. 20

NYR vs. MIN, 8PM

Dec. 21

NYI vs. PIT, 7:30 PM
NYR vs. COL, 9PM
NJ vs. EDM, 9PM

Dec. 22

WSH vs. NYI, 7PM

Dec. 23

OTT vs. NYR, 7PM
NJ vs. CGY, 8PM

Dec. 26

TOR vs. NYI, 7PM
CAR vs. NYR, 7PM

Dec. 27

NYI vs. OTT, 7:30 PM

Dec. 28

BUF vs. NJ, 7PM

Dec. 29

NJ vs. NYI, 7PM

Dec. 30

MTL vs. NYR, 7PM

Dec. 31

NYI vs. CAR, 8PM

Jan. 2

FLA vs. NJ, 7PM

NYR vs. CGY, 9PM

Jan. 3

FLA vs. NYI, 7PM

NYR vs. VAN, 10PM

Jan. 4

PHI vs. NJ, 7PM

Jan. 5

NJ vs. BOS, 7PM
NYI vs. COL, 9PM
NYR vs. EDM, 10PM

Jan. 7

NYI vs. EDM, 9PM

Jan. 8

BUF vs. NJ, 7PM
TB vs. NYR, 7PM

NYI vs. VAN, 10PM

Jan. 10

PHI vs. NYR, 7PM
NJ vs. CAR, 7PM

Jan. 11

NYI vs. CGY, 9PM

Jan. 12

NJ vs. BUF, 7PM
MTL vs. NYR, 7PM

Jan. 13

NYI vs. OTT, 7PM

Jan. 14

NYR vs. PIT, 7PM

Jan. 15

MTL vs. NYI, 7PM

Jan. 16

NYI vs. NJ, 7PM
BUF vs. NYR, 7PM

Jan. 18

FLA vs. NJ, 7PM

Jan. 19

NYR vs. BOS, 1PM
PHI vs. NYI, 7PM

Jan. 20

BOS vs. NYR, 1:30PM
TOR vs. NJ, 5PM

Jan. 21

CAR vs. NYI, 7PM

Jan. 22

NJ vs. PHI, 7PM
ATL vs. NYR, 7PM
NYI vs. CAR, 7PM

Jan. 24

NYI vs. BOS, 7PM
MTL vs. NJ, 7PM
ATL vs. NYR, 7PM

Jan. 29

PIT vs. NJ, 7PM
OTT vs. NYI, 7PM
NYR vs. CAR, 7PM

Jan. 31

LA vs. NYI, 7PM
NYR vs. PHI, 7PM

Feb. 1

NYR vs. NJ, 7PM

Feb. 2

NYI vs. MTL, 2PM
LA vs. NJ, 7PM

Feb. 3

NYR vs. MTL, 2PM

Feb. 5

ANA vs. NYI, 7PM
LA vs. NYR, 7PM

Feb. 6

NJ vs. BUF, 7PM

Feb. 7

ANA vs. NYR, 7PM
NYI vs. PIT, 7:30PM

Feb. 8

ANA vs. NJ, 7PM

Feb. 9

NYR vs. PHI, 1PM
NYI vs. MIN, 6PM
CAR vs. NJ, 7PM

Feb. 10

NYR vs. WSH, 1PM

Feb. 12

PHI vs. NYI, 7PM

Feb. 13

OTT vs. NJ, 7PM

Feb. 14
NYI vs. TOR, 7:30PM

Feb. 15

ATL vs. NJ, 7PM

Feb. 16
BUF vs. NYR, 1PM
NJ vs. OTT, 7PM
ATL vs. NYI, 7PM

Feb. 17

SJ vs. NYR, 1PM

Feb. 18

CAR vs. NJ, 1PM
SJ vs. NYI, 2PM

Feb. 19

NYR vs. MTL, 7PM

Feb. 20

SJ vs. NJ, 7PM
NYI vs. WSH, 7PM

Feb. 21

TB vs. NYI, 7PM

Feb. 23

NYI vs. NJ, 1PM
NYR vs. BUF, 7PM

Feb. 24

NJ vs. WSH, 3PM
FLA vs. NYR, 7PM

Feb.26

PIT vs. NYI, 7PM
NJ vs. CAR, 7PM

Feb. 28

NYR vs. CAR, 7PM
NYI vs. ATL, 7PM

Feb. 29

WSH vs. NJ, 7PM

Mar. 1

PHI vs. NYI, 2PM
NJ vs. MTL, 7PM

Mar. 2
PHI vs. NYR, 3PM
FLA vs. NYI, 3PM

Mar. 4

NYI vs. NYR, 7PM
NJ vs. TOR, 7:30PM

Mar. 6

NYR vs. NYI, 7PM

Mar. 7

TB vs. NJ, 7PM

Mar. 8

NJ vs. TOR, 7PM
NYI vs. PHI, 7PM

Mar. 9

BOS vs. NYR, 3PM

Mar. 10

NYR vs. BUF, 7PM

Mar. 11

NJ vs. MTL, 7:30PM
NYI vs. TB, 7:30PM

Mar. 12

NYI vs. FLA, 7:30PM

Mar. 13

NJ vs. MIN, 8PM

Mar. 14

NYR vs. FLA, 7:30PM

Mar. 15

NJ vs. COL, 3PM
NYI vs. MTL, 7PM
NYR vs. TB, 7:30PM

Mar. 18

TOR vs. NYI, 7PM
PIT vs. NYR, 7PM

Mar. 19

NYR vs. NJ, 7PM

Mar. 21

NYI vs. NJ, 7PM
NYR vs. PHI, 7PM

Mar. 22

NJ vs. PIT, 7:30PM

Mar. 23

NYI vs. PHI, 7PM

Mar. 24

PIT vs. NYI, 7PM

Mar. 25

PHI vs. NYR, 7PM
PIT vs. NJ, 7PM

Mar. 27

NJ vs. NYR, 7PM
NYI vs. PIT, 7:30PM

Mar. 28

PHI vs. NJ, 7PM

Mar. 29

PHI vs. NYI, 7PM

Mar. 30

NYR vs. PIT, 3PM

Mar. 31

PIT vs. NYR, 7PM

Apr. 1

NJ vs. NYI, 7PM

Apr. 2

BOS vs. NJ, 7PM

Apr. 3

NYR vs. NYI, 7PM

Apr. 4

NYI vs. NYR, 7PM
NJ vs. PHI, 7PM

Apr. 6

NYR vs. NJ, 3PM

Here’s when all the teams shall meet.

10/10/07 - NYR vs. NYI, 7:00 PM
10/20/07 - NJD vs. NYI, 7:00 PM
10/25/07 - NJD vs. NYR, 7:00 PM
11/03/07 - NJD vs. NYR, 7:00 PM
11/06/07 - NYR vs. NYI, 7:00 PM
11/10/07 - NJD vs. NYI, 7:00 PM
11/14/07 - NYR vs. NJD, 7:00 PM
11/16/07 - NYI vs. NJD, 7:00 PM
11/19/07 - NYI vs. NYR, 7:00 PM
11/29/07 - NYI vs. NYR, 7:00 PM
12/09/07 - NJD vs. NYR, 7:00 PM
12/29/07 - NJD vs. NYI, 7:00 PM
01/16/08 - NYI vs. NJD, 7:00 PM
02/01/08 - NYR vs. NJD, 7:00 PM
02/23/08 - NYI vs. NJD, 7:00 PM
03/04/08 - NYI vs. NYR, 7:00 PM
03/06/08 - NYR vs. NYI, 7:00 PM
03/19/08 - NYR vs. NJD, 7:00 PM
03/21/08 - NYI vs. NJD, 7:00 PM
03/27/08 - NJD vs. NYR, 7:00 PM
04/01/08 - NJD vs. NYI, 7:00 PM
04/03/08 - NYR vs. NYI, 7:00 PM
04/04/08 - NYI vs. NYR, 7:00 PM
04/06/08 - NYR vs. NJD, 3:00 PM

The 82 Games that will comprise the New Jersey Devils 26th season of play in the National League of Hockey since moving to the Garden State from Denver, Colorado will be an interesting one. It will start off with a team-record nine game road-trip, featuring six of nine against 2007 playoff teams, and three more against the rebuilt and ready-to-contend Philadelphia Flyers and Florida Panthers.

It would do the Devils a favor to be over .500 when this trip ends. That is when they will officially move in to their new digs, the 17,625-seated for hockey Prudential Center - also known as “The Rock” - in the Brick City known as Newark, New Jersey. They open their 2007-2008 home schedule against last year’s playoff nemesis, and the team that eliminated them from the Quest For the Cup in five games of a second round series, the Ottawa Senators.

Following that likely sold out opener, the Devils will play host to four more of their next five games. The Penguins and Flyers will make their first trips to The Rock during this stand. After two more on the road, the Devils welcome Jaromir Jagr, Chris Drury, Henrik Lundqvist, Brendan Shanahan, and some dude named “Gomez” and the New York Rangers to Broad St. for the first time on November 14th. The atmosphere will likely be unmatched of any Devil-Ranger regular season game ever played in the Garden State.

Two days after, the Devils welcome their division rival New York Islanders to The Rock for the first time, and go on a four-game road trip. Their first Western Conference opponent visits them following that swing, as the Dallas Stars visit the New Jersey for the first time since 2002. This will open up a five-game home state for the red-and-black, capped off with Alexander Ovechkin’s Capitals’ first visit on December 7. After a three-game road-trip, the Devils will play their first matinee at The Rock on December 15, as Wayne Gretzky’s Phoenix Coyotes visit for the first time since 2002. A Sunday-evening game with the Flyers follows.

Then, the Devils make their first trip out west of the season, as they face the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames in the span of five days, leading up to the NHL’s Christmas sabattical and roster freeze. They return to action December 28th against Ryan Miller’s Buffalo Sabres.

Dates of note in the new year include a stretch in January and February where the Devils will play a ridiculous 16 of 21 games on home ice. Other Western Conference visitors will include the LA Kings (Feb. 2), the San Jose Sharks (Feb. 20) and Scott Niedermayer’s Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks for their first trip on February 8th.

In March, the Devils make a brief, two-game trip to the rest of the Northwest Divsion, taking on Jacques Lemaire’s Minnesota Wild (Mar. 13) and Joe Sakic’s Colorado Avalanche (Mar. 15). This will be the Devils last trip away from the Atlantic Division’s three states (NY, NJ, PA).

The Devils close out the season with seven out of eight against their four rivals, with the team’s home finale on Sunday, April 6th against the Rangers, which will be in contention to be chosen by NBC for their “Game of the Week” program, or will otherwise be moved to another time of the day.

It will be a long year, but in the end, these players and we as fans will probably find it to be one of the more entertaining years in the history of New Jersey Devils Hockey.

Oct. 4 at Lightning, 7:30 PM
Oct. 6 at Panthers, 7:00 PM
Oct. 8 at Senators, 2:00 PM
Oct. 11 at Panthers, 7:30 PM
Oct. 13 at Thrashers, 7:00 PM
Oct. 17 at Penguins, 7:30 PM
Oct. 18 at Flyers, 7:00 PM
Oct. 20 at Islanders, 7:00 PM
Oct. 25 at Rangers, 7:00 PM
Oct. 27 HOME OPENER vs. Senators, 7:00 PM
Oct. 31 vs. Lightning, 7:00 PM
Nov. 2 vs. Maple Leafs, 7:00 PM
Nov. 3 at Rangers, 7:00 PM
Nov. 5 vs. Penguins, 7:00 PM
Nov. 8 vs. Flyers, 7:00 PM
Nov. 10 at Islanders, 7:00 PM
Nov. 12 at Penguins, 7:30 PM
Nov. 14 VS. RANGERS, 7:00 PM
Nov. 16 VS. Islanders, 7:00 PM
Nov. 17 at Flyers, 7:00 PM
Nov. 21 at Penguins, 7:30 PM
Nov. 23 at Thrashers, 7:30 PM
Nov. 24 at Lightning, 7:30 PM
Nov. 28 vs. Stars, 7:00 PM
Nov. 30 vs. Canadiens, 7:00 PM
Dec. 2 vs. Thrashers, 5:00 PM
Dec. 5 vs. Bruins, 7:00 PM
Dec. 7 vs. Capitals, 7:00 PM
Dec. 9 at Rangers, 5:00 PM
Dec. 10 at Capitals, 7:00 PM
Dec. 13 at Bruins, 7:00 PM
Dec. 15 vs. Coyotes, 1:00 PM
Dec. 16 vs. Flyers, 5:00 PM
Dec. 18 at Canucks, 10:00 PM
Dec. 21 at Oilers, 9:00 PM
Dec. 23 at Flames, 8:00 PM
Dec. 28 vs. Sabres, 7:00 PM
Dec. 29 at Islanders, 7:00 PM
Jan. 2 vs. Panthers, 7:00 PM
Jan. 4 vs. Flyers, 7:00 PM
Jan. 5 at Bruins, 7:00 PM
Jan. 8 vs. Sabres, 7:00 PM
Jan. 10 at Hurricanes, 7:00 PM
Jan. 12 at Sabres, 7:00 PM
Jan. 16 vs. Islanders, 7:00 PM
Jan. 18 vs. Panthers, 7:00 PM
Jan. 20 vs. Maple Leafs, 5:00 PM
Jan. 22 at Flyers, 7:00 PM
Jan. 24 vs. Canadiens, 7:00 PM
Jan. 29 vs. Penguins, 7:00 PM
Feb. 1 vs. Rangers, 7:00 PM
Feb. 2 vs. Kings, 7:00 PM
Feb. 4 vs. Penguins, 7:00 PM
Feb. 6 at Sabres, 7:00 PM
Feb. 8 VS. DUCKS, 7:00 PM
Feb. 9 vs. Hurricanes, 7:00 PM
Feb. 13 vs. Senators, 7:00 PM
Feb. 15 vs. Thrashers, 7:00 PM
Feb. 16 at Senators, 7:00 PM
Feb. 18 vs. Hurricanes, 1:00 PM (HOLIDAY)
Feb. 20 vs. Sharks, 7:00 PM
Feb. 23 vs. Islanders, 1:00 PM
Feb. 24 at Capitals, 3:00 PM
Feb. 26 at Hurricanes, 7:00 PM
Feb. 29 vs. Capitals, 7:00 PM
Mar. 1 at Canadiens, 7:00 PM
Mar. 4 at Maple Leafs, 7:30 PM
Mar. 7 vs. Lightning, 7:00 PM
Mar. 8 at Maple Leafs, 7:00 PM
Mar. 11 at Canadiens, 7:30 PM
Mar. 14 at Wild, 8:00 PM
Mar. 15 at Avalanche, 3:00 PM
Mar. 19 vs. Rangers, 7:00 PM
Mar. 21 vs. Islanders, 7:00 PM
Mar. 22 at Penguins, 7:30 PM
Mar. 25 vs. Penguins, 7:00 PM
Mar. 27 at Rangers, 7:00 PM
Mar. 28 vs. Flyers, 7:00 PM
Apr. 1 at Islanders, 7:00 PM
Apr. 2 vs. Bruins, 7:00 PM
Apr. 4 at Flyers, 7:00 PM
Apr. 6 vs. Rangers, 3:00 PM (Possible NBC Game)

From NHL.com

Here it is: The 2007-08 NHL Schedule

Individual Teams coming up next.

October 4th versus the Panthers.

It’ll be LA-ANA in London on 9/29 - 9/30, then regular opening night on 10/3, which will feature Leafs-Sens and likely an American doubleheader for Versus, and everybody’s in action 10/4.

Devils will likely open in the south, because their 2nd game will be 10/6 at Florida.

Philadelphia opens up in the northwest at Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

October 27th, versus playoff knocker-outers the Ottawa Senators.

I will be there if I have to beg for tix.