The NHL and Columbus Blue Jackets released its 2010-11 season today. The Jackets, playing in its 10th NHL season, open with a pair of games with San Jose in Stockholm, Sweden on Oct. 8-9.

When the Jackets return stateside, they will host the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks in the home opener Fri., Oct. 15. The first road game is the next evening at Minnesota.

Other highlights of the schedule include a New Years Eve meeting with the Ottawa Senators, a St. Patrick’s Day game with the Detroit Red Wings and the season finale visit by the Buffalo Sabres.

The Blackhawks also visit Nationwide Arena Feb. 1 and April 1. Central Division foe St. Louis visits Nov. 10, Mar. 9 and Apr. 3, while Nashville comes to town Nov. 22, Dec. 1 and Feb. 22.

Columbus has nine back-to-backs, including one in Sweden. The largest road trip takes place Feb. 28 to March 7 with stops in Nashville, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and St. Louis. The Jackets will play only three of 11 games at home in January.

The longest home stand is only three games twice—Nov. 6-12 (Minnesota, St. Louis, Colorado) and Dec. 18-23 (Dallas, Calgary, Vancouver). The Jackets and Red Wings will face off on the day before and after the Ohio State/Michigan game, which is Thanksgiving weekend. The teams play in Columbus on Nov. 26 and in Detroit Nov. 28. The Wings also visit Jan. 14.

Columbus plays 20 of 41 home games on Friday, Saturday or Sunday and 42 of 82 overall.

The Jackets will have home-and-away meetings with the Sabres, Florida Panthers and the Pittsburgh Penguins, who visit Nationwide Arena Dec. 4. Other Eastern Conference foes to visit Columbus are the New Jersey Devils (Mar. 20), the New York Rangers (Dec. 11), the Philadelphia Flyers (Oct. 25), the Boston Bruins (Mar. 15), and the Montreal Canadiens (Nov. 2).

The Jackets visit the teams of the Southeast Division, as well as Toronto and the New York Islanders.

The whole schedule can be found at: http://bluejackets.nhl.com/v2/ext/2010-11%20Printable%20Schedule.pdf

Daveseaman@columbuswired.tv
Twitter: @Daveseaman94