The Penguins will open defense of their Stanley Cup championship Oct. 2 at Mellon Arena with a 7:30 p.m. Atlantic Division game against the New York Rangers.

The NHL released all teams' 2009-10 schedules today.

One night after they raise the championship banner at home, the Penguins will play Oct. 3 on the road against the New York Islanders and 2009 top overall draft pick John Tavares.

Also on the team's schedule are several long road and home swings.

There is a four-game road trip in October at Philadelphia, Toronto, Ottawa and Carolina. The Penguins beat Philadelphia in the first round of the 2009 playoffs and Carolina in the Eastern Conference final. That trip is followed by a five-game homestand against Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Florida, New Jersey and Montreal.

There is another four-game road swing in early November at Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose and Boston, and another four-game homestand at midseason against Buffalo, New Jersey, Tampa Bay and Florida.

Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will make their second NHL trip to Western Canada during a five-game road trip in January with stops in Toronto, Minnesota, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver -- putting them in Vancouver about a month before the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics there.

As with last season, they will play Detroit -- their opponent in the past two Stanley Cup finals -- twice. The Red Wings are at Mellon Arena Jan. 31, and the Penguins visit Joe Louis, where they raised the Cup, March 22.

The Penguins close the regular season April 11 on the road against the Islanders.