By HOWARD BERGER
TORONTO (June 25) — The full NHL schedule for 2008-09 will be released in mid-July, and it will show the Maple Leafs opening up the regular season with a game at Detroit on Thursday, October 9th — the start of the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup defence.
This is a feature of the new schedule format, in which all 30 teams play one another at least once. The Leafs and Red Wings are, of course, long-time opponents, having been part of the pre-expansion NHL, and the game will be featured nationally on both sides of the border. CBC and Hockey Night In Canada will present a special Thursday-night edition to start the season, and Versus will carry the game in the United States.
The Leafs and Red Wings last played a regular-season game at Joe Louis Arena on Dec. 9, 2006 — Detroit romping, 5-1. The Leafs upset the Red Wings in their lone meeting this past season, Feb. 9, at the Air Canada Centre. Nik Antropov deflected in Anton Stralman’s point-shot at 1:02 of overtime, lifting Toronto to a 3-2 victory. The Wings were starting their only slump of the season, going 1-8-2 between Feb. 7 and Feb. 29.
The Leafs’ schedule will also feature home-and-away games against Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. The club’s western-Canada trip is expected to be in early-November. There is word the Leafs’ game in Vancouver will be a 4 p.m. Saturday local start — 7 p.m. back east as the first half of Hockey Night’s weekend doubleheader. The Canucks will play at the Air Canada Centre as part of CBC’s Hockey Day In Canada on Saturday, Feb. 21. Kyle Wellwood could make his return to the ACC that night.
The Leafs and Red Wings will face off in their annual home-and-home set during the pre-season schedule.
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…assuming Wellwood is healthy enough to play on that date.
- WalterPerfect…
- BobbyThe torch will be passed on opening night from the Stanley Cup Champions from 2008 Red Wings playing the 2009 champion Toronto Maple Leafs! Go LEAFS Go!
Jeff Carter is coming and will win the HART.
Schemm wins the Rookie and the Norris.
Toskala will win the Vezina.
Wilson coach of the year.
Kaberle is the easy pick for Lady Bing.
Steen will finsih 2nd in the Selke voting but there will be recount on awards night and due to his performance in the Leafs finals sweep against the Calgary Flames he is awarded the trophy.
Can’t wait for 2009!
tell quinn to pipe down…. he is just as responsibe for depleting the leafs farm system( or lack of) as is jfj. he drafted crappy and his loyality to hogland and renberg and reichel is the reason why the leafs never had someone play with sundin.
- vinman