The New Jersey Devils, who exceeded expectations last season as they nearly made the playoffs in head coach John Hynes’ first season, will open up the 2016-17 campaign on Thursday, October 13, on the road against the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center at 7:30 PM.
The Devils will then play Tampa Bay on October 15 before the home opener at the Prudential Center on Tuesday, October 18 vs. the Anaheim Ducks at 7:00 PM.
Last season, the Devils’ four games with the Rangers were epic affairs, and New Jersey won three of them.
The Rangers-Devils rivalry commences with two straight Sundays at Madison Square Garden, December 11 at 7:00 pm and December 18 at 7:30 pm. The Rangers travel to New Jersey on Saturday, February, 25 at 5:00 pm and Tuesday, March 21 at 7:00 pm.
The Islanders and Devils will start their season series with a home and home, as they will play in New Jersey on Saturday, February 18 at 7:00 pm and in Brooklyn the next day, Sunday, February 19 at 6:00 pm. They will also play in Brooklyn on Friday, March 31 at 7:oo pm, and in New Jersey on Saturday, April 8 at 6:00 pm.
The Devils will take on the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins on the following dates: in Pittsburgh on Saturday, November 26 at 7:00 pm and Friday March 17 at 7:00 pm, and in New Jersey on Tuesday, December 27 at 7:00 pm and Thursday, April 6 at 7:00 pm.
The Devils take on another team they have a bitter rivalry with, the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, December 22 at 7:00 pm, Thursday, March 16 at 7:00 pm, and Tuesday, April 4 at 7:00 pm in New Jersey; and Saturday, January 21 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, April 1 at 7:00 pm in Philadelphia
The Devils’ home schedule includes 19 weekend dates: six Friday games, nine Saturday matches and four Sunday contests. New for this season, all Friday night home games will now have a 7:30 PM start time.
Highlighting the weekend are seven early home starts: Sat., Dec. 31 vs. Washington (1:00 PM); Sun., Feb. 12 vs. San Jose (12:30 PM); Sat., Feb. 25 vs. NY Rangers (5:00 PM); Sun., Mar. 5 vs. Columbus (5:00 PM); Sun., Mar. 19 vs. Columbus (1:00 PM); Sun., Mar. 26 vs. Dallas (5:00 PM) and Sat., Apr. 8 vs. NY Islanders (6:00 PM). That is an increase of one more home early start than 2015-16 (6), and six more than 2014-15 (1). All of the remaining home games will get underway at 7:00 PM.
New Jersey’s schedule away from “The Rock” includes four, season-high four-game road trips, two three-game trips and three two-game trips. The Devils will finish the regular season in Detroit on Sun., Apr. 9 at 5:00 PM.