The National Hockey League released the Penguins' regular schedule for the 2008-09 season today, a season that will open up with a trip to Stockholm, Sweden, where the team will play its first two games against Ottawa Oct. 4-5.

---

PDF

See the Penguins 2008-09 season schedule

---

Following the trip to Sweden, the defending Eastern Conference champion Penguins will play their home opener at Mellon Arena on Oct. 11 against the New Jersey Devils. The game against the Devils opens a four-game homestand which will also bring Philadelphia, Washington and Toronto to town between Oct. 14-18.

The Penguins will play six games each against their Atlantic Division rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders --- three at home, three on the road. They will play four games each against the other 10 teams in the Eastern Conference --- two at home, two on the road.

Of the 82 regular season game, the Penguins will play 64 against Eastern Conference teams and 18 against Western Conference representatives.

For the first time since a lockout resulted in the cancellation of 2004-05 NHL season, the schedule will have Eastern Conference teams playing each Western Conference team at least once.

The Penguins will play Western Conference teams Detroit --- which beat them in the Stanley Cup finals --- San Jose and Columbus twice this season, once at home and once on the road.

The Penguins will make the trip to Joe Louis Arena Nov. 11; with the Red Wings visiting Pittsburgh on Feb. 8.

Of note is a late-season eight-game homestand between March 14-April 1 wherein Ottawa, Boston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Calgary, the New York Rangers and New Jersey will visit Mellon Arena.

The season ends April 11, with a trip to Montreal.