Jackets announce 2009-2010 schedule (7/16/09)
by Dave Seaman, Columbus Wired

The National Hockey League has announced it’s 2009-2010 season and the Columbus Blue Jackets quest for a second playoff appearance begins Oct. 2 against Minnesota at Nationwide Arena.

The schedule is highlighted with home games with the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 30 and the Washington Capitals on April 3. Other Eastern Conference teams visiting Nationwide this season include the New York Islanders (Mar. 27), Buffalo (Feb. 6), Toronto (Dec. 3) and the entire Southeast Division.

Divisional play makes up the bulk of the schedule with six games (three home, three away) scheduled with Chicago, Detroit, Nashville and St. Louis. The Jackets will play every other Western Conference team four times (twice at home, twice away) and each Eastern Conference team once. This year’s flex games (home-and away with Eastern Conference teams) are with Atlanta, Washington and the Islanders.

Columbus will host Nashville on New Years Eve and Chicago on Valentines Day. While there is no St. Patrick’s Day game, the Jackets host Edmonton on Mar. 15 and Minnesota on Mar. 19.

Former Jacket captain Adam Foote and his Colorado Avalanche make their first appearance in Columbus on Dec. 5. The Jackets will visit former goaltender Pascal Leclaire in Ottawa on Nov. 26. The Detroit Red Wings visit Nationwide for the first time on Nov. 11.

The regular season concludes on April 9 with a visit from Detroit.

The Jackets will play 44 of its 82 home games on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, including 24 of its 41 home games. The team will play at home 12 times—a franchise best—on Saturday’s.

The schedule is road heavy early in the season, but home friendly late when the Jackets could be Marching to the Playoffs once again. Columbus will host five of its six games in Nationwide Arena in February before the NHL takes 15 days off for the Olympic Games in Vancouver.

That stretch in February and early March is the longest home stand of the season (six-games), while a five-game stretch in November marks the Jackets longest road stretch. Columbus will play 12 back-to-backs with eight home/away and four on the road.

See full schedule at BlueJackets.com