Once again the time has come for the NHL regular season schedule to be released. The schedule guidelines remain the same: 6 games against each divisional opponent, 4 games for each conference opponent, and 1 game for each team in the other conference. There will be three “at large” teams from the opposing conference that will be played twice.

The schedule is as follows:

The games highlighted in yellow denote back-to-backs

As has been much publicized over the past few months, the Sharks will be starting their season in Stockholm, Sweden against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a back-to-back “home and home.” The Sharks will technically start their season at home, but their first game in the Tank is also their first game back on North American soil against the Atlanta Thrashers. Their first short homestand will also include a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, before they go on the road for a Northwest division road trip.

The three Eastern Conference teams the Sharks play twice are the Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, and New Jersey Devils. The Sharks played both the Capitals and Sabres twice last year, and replaced the Flyers with the Devils.

As with last year, the Washington Captials have not beat the Sharks at the Tank in now 14 years. However, Ovechkin did manage to score a goal against the Sharks last year, breaking that streak. It still would be nice to see the long record at the Tank hold up. The games will be on February 8 at Washington, and February 17 at San Jose.

Last year’s away game with the Sabres marked only the second and final time the Sharks were shut out all season, with the first being a 1-0 shootout loss. It was notable because it was right before the Olympics, and helped American Hero Ryan Miller get back on track. The games will be on December 9 at Buffalo, and January 6 at San Jose.

The only game the Sharks played the Devils last year was a 4-3 loss, and the first game after the Olympics. However, it was a notable game because the Sharks had a 3 goal third period, just falling short of a comeback. The next three games the Sharks would set an NHL record with the most consecutive regulation comebacks after being down entering the third period. The games will be on October 27 at San Jose, and February 11 at New Jersey.

National Television Targets

Last season, the Sharks were on Versus four times, and NBC none (as has been par for the course since they switched away from regional broadcasts). Unlike the season before last, the Sharks didn’t even have an option of being picked up on NBC last season. However, due to their strong postseason and high ratings garnered in their series against Detroit (set record for highest semifinal ratings on Versus) and Chicago (Game 4 set a record on NBC), there would probably be more of an incentive for the national broadcasts to pick up a Sharks game or five.

Versus only broadcasts on Mondays and Tuesdays (barring any special circumstances) and NBC only broadcasts on Sundays and after the new year (except for the Winter Classic). So, with that in mind, here are some candidates for possible national broadcasts:

Versus:

October 8/9 vs/at Columbus Blue Jackets – These two games will be on Versus, I guarantee it. I mean, they’re in Stockholm and part of the Europe season opener. If they don’t broadcast these two games on Versus, something went wrong with Versus or something.
November 2, at Minnesota – Versus likes Minnesota for some reason. And they had a Sharks-Wild game last season. Plus, it’s the highly anticipated game where Brad Staubitz plays the Sharks for the first time since the trade!
November 15, vs Los Angeles Kings – There’s the whole Northern California/Southern California rivalry, and the Kings are actually good now. Then again, they are both Californian teams, and it’s at the Tank, which Versus hates. Maybe not.
November 30/December 6/February 22, vs/at Detroit Red Wings – Already a great match-up before last season’s playoffs, but last season’s semifinals series just makes these three games even more attractive to Versus. The two in Detroit are more likely of the three to happen, because of the aforementioned aversion to San Jose.
February 8, at Washington Capitals – The Capitals are one of Versus’s favorite teams, and a matchup against the Sharks would pit two of the most dynamic teams in the league against each other.
March 1, versus Colorado Avalance – A rematch of the first round series from last season, Versus also showed a Sharks-Avs game last season (albeit because of Joe Sakic night and the season opener).
March 14, at Chicago Blackhawks – Western Conference Finals rematch, two of the best teams in the West, and a proven ratings winner. This and one of the Detroit dates are probably the most likely to be chosen outside of the Stockholm games.

NBC:

January 9, at Anaheim Ducks – Mainly because it’s one of only two Sunday games they will play after the new year begins. It would be nice if NBC recognized the Sharks/Ducks rivalry, but fat chance of that happening.
February 13, at Florida Panthers – Mainly because it’s one of only two Sunday games they will play after the new year begins. Like with Anaheim, fat chance that they’ll show a game between a California and Florida team.

Basically, don’t hold your breath for an NBC game this season, unless the Sharks make it to the Western Conference Finals again.

Month by Month Breakdown

October
5* home, 4 road, 13,947.773 miles traveled

The second-shortest month in terms of games due to the season starting mid-October and the travel from Sweden, it also has the most miles traveled due to the travel to and from Sweden. All non-playoff teams except for New Jersey and Colorado, although a lot of those teams were somewhat competitive. The Sharks should come out with a winning record.

*One of the home games the Sharks play is actually in Sweden.

November
8 home, 6 road, 9,339.591 miles traveled

Fairly even in terms of home and road games, this is also the month that falls in the middle in terms of travel (which is kind of bad, seeing as they still travel almost 10,000 miles). This month also features a lot of non-playoff teams, and only two teams from the Eastern Conference. No travel to the east, though, which is a plus. Should also be a winning record.

December
5 home, 10 road, 12,822.08 miles traveled

They start off the month with an eastern road trip from hell – all playoff teams, including the two Eastern Conference finalists and Detroit. And then they come back to play Chicago. Joy. This month is not going to be a fun month, between playing Detroit once and Chicago twice, as well as a lot of early starts. Plus, it has the second most miles traveled. Should still get a winning record, but not overwhelmingly so as with the first two months.

January
7 home, 5 road, 5,670.62 miles traveled

Second shortest month in terms of travel, which is partially because of the All Star game at the end of the month. It marks the second return of Ron Wilson with the Toronto Maple Leafs coming to the Tank, but it unfortunately doesn’t look like the second return of Toskala as well. Unless he signs with a different team, of course. Will be the first time Brad Staubitz returns to San Jose, though!

February
3 home, 10 road, 12,270.96 miles traveled

This month will be the one where we’ll wonder if the HP Pavilion actually exists or if it’s just a mythical structure from our dreams. Third most miles traveled – and not by much – and the second Eastern Conference road trip, including a game agains the Boston Bruins which will begin at 10am (!!). This is the last month the Sharks will go to the Eastern time zone. Some very competitive teams during this month – I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the Sharks go .500 or even compile a losing record. I mean, I doubt it, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

March
10 home, 4 road, 6,372.589 miles traveled

This is the month where we go, “It’s no place like home,” and forget that you actually have to travel. There is an emphasis on the Pacific Division teams, although a few other Western Conference teams – and a lone Eastern Conference team – are sprinkled in there. The last time the Sharks will travel out of division is on the 14th, to Chicago. They should probably accrue a record above .500.

April
3 home, 2 road, 1,259.368 miles traveled

Easily the least travel the Sharks have, what with only playing 5 games and only within the division. With so few games – and at least three of them being against playoff teams – this month is hard to predict the record. Depends on whether or not the Ducks go into rebuilding mode, and whether Phoenix’s season last year was a fluke built off of many, many shootout wins (probably not, but something to consider).

Games of Note

October 8/9, against Columbus – The season opener and one in Stockholm, to boot. It’s fun to watch how other countries treat sports. As long as it’s not South Africa. Those vuvuzelas are making me crazy.

November 24, versus Chicago – The first rematch between the two Western Conference finalists, however different they may look. Should be a fun – if nerve-wracking – game.

December 2, at Ottawa – The first time Dany Heatley returns to Ottawa since the trade. I expect a lot of boos. A LOT of boos.

December 8, at Philadelphia – Always fun to go to Philly, what with them being the Prince of Wales Trophy winners and having Alternate Captain Elbows (who I have since admitted to not minding, particularly if he is playing a team that I don’t like). Also: BOOOOOOOOSH!

January 11, versus Toronto – I don’t know why, I just like games where the Sharks play the Leafs. Wait, I know why – the Sharks tend to win, and Leafs fans are hilarious.

February 5, at Boston – Only the third time Thornton has returned to Boston since The Trade (Sharks seem to have a lot of those, don’t they?), and it should be interesting. If Scott Nichol re-signs with the Sharks, I’d love to see him knock down Zdeno Chara again.

February 17, versus Washington – It’s always fun when the Capitals come to the Tank. Well, fun for the Sharks. Not so fun for the Capitals.

April 9, versus Phoenix – The final game of the season and Fan Appreciation Night at the Tank, it should be a good one.

Any game against any team Nabokov signs with – Evgeni Nabokov is awesome, and will be wearing a different sweater for the first time in his NHL career. While at the time of writing I have no idea which team Nabby will be with, I am definitely looking forward to applauding our quirky Russian/Kazakh goalie for his time with the Sharks.

In Conclusion

The Sharks will play back-to-back 14 times this year, up one from last season, and none of them will feature two home games in a row (although the two Sweden games will be in the same place, only one is considered a home game). The shortest distance between non-Sweden back-to-backs is 176.467 miles (between Edmonton and Calgary), and the longest is 802.73 miles (between Dallas and Chicago).

The All Star Game returns this year, so no two-week break. The All Star Game will be January 29-30 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Sharks likely won’t have any starters (since Sharks fans tend to not start any massive fan campaigns), but will likely have at least two representatives, being one of the top teams in the league. I suspect Logan Couture will be tabbed for the Young Stars game, maybe even one of their goalies.

October, December, and February all suck in terms of travel, with at least 12,000 miles each month, and a total of 39,040.813 miles. Some teams don’t travel that much during the entire season.

There are four early afternoon games (two noon, two 2pm). But there are also two morning games – one at 10am in Boston, and one at 11am in Montreal. I am not looking forward to those two games.

The total miles traveled is a whopping 61,682.98 miles. That’s 14,727 miles more than last season. And last season they decreased their travel amount by around 10,000 miles than the season before, where they by far traveled the most miles. Rarely – if ever – does a team break 60K miles traveled in a season, and the Sharks are doing it. Sweden adds to that, as does their trips to Montreal and Boston, the two furthest teams from San Jose. Makes me question why the Sharks would be chosen for Europe in a year where they have to travel the furthest anyways, but whatever.