schedule out!

NHL.com just released the 2005-06 schedule. Skate over there to check out your favorite team's schedule.

The Canes will be on the road for opening night October 5, but our home opener will be Friday October 7 against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. I can't wait!

We've also got our traditional home New Year's Eve game, which has been against the Rangers for like three years in a row, but will be against Les Habitants

I see a few times where we play the same team in back-to-back games. Twice with the Thrashers, actually. Here are the back-to-back games

Rangers November 17 (away) and 19 (home)
Thrashers November 27 (home) and 29 (away)
Islanders January 6 (home) and 7 (away)
Thrashers January 26 (away) and 28 (home)

and the one that mystifies me:
Panthers March 11, 12 (both away).
Seems a little unfair, I think.

and the one that absolutely blows my mind:
Capitals April 3 (home), 5 (away) and 7 (away)
Three consecutive matchups with the Caps in a five day span including two in a row at the MCI Center. Unreal! Actually, during an eight game stretch spanning March 25 to April 7 (14 days) we play the Caps five times. Granted, three of them are in our building, but the last two are in theirs.

If the race in the Southeast Division is close, that will be a critical stretch of games for both squads.

Anyway, October 5 can't get here soon enough. Check out the countdown above!