At least four more months till we see this again... (Photo: Melissa Andus)
Today, in a move of wishful thinking, the NHL released the 2012-2013 schedule with the season starting on October 11th. And as expected, the Rangers start on the road. Where on the road? Oh just in Los Angeles on October 12th for the Kings home opener. No big deal. SERIOUSLY? Why did we have to get the damn banner raising? Although I would not be surprised if Torts makes the team watch as motivation for the season 
The other part of that road trip that will probably annoy Rangers fans – who thought it was a good idea for the team to be IN San Jose on Monday 10/15 for a 7:30 p.m. local time start (i.e. 10:30 p.m. on east coast) and then IN New Jersey on Wednesday 10/17 for a 7:30 p.m. game? There isn’t even 48 hours between start times and the boys have to cross the country! At least that one isn’t a home opener too.
As for other highlights/notes:
* No home stretch is longer than four games (happens three times), although a couple of longer stretches are broken up with a trip to New Jersey or Philadelphia so not really road trips. Not including the eight game trip to start the season, no road trip is longer than three games other than a five game stretch between December 29th and January 5th.
* The team has fourteen back-to-backs this season, same as it did in 2011-2012.
* Assuming Jordan Staal stays in Pittsburgh, Marc will be seeing his brothers back to back three out of the four times we play the Hurricanes. The first is two away games on October 25th and 26th.
* The Rangers first eight games are on the road due to the renovation meaning the home opener will be November 1st vs. Dallas. Dallas? Really? Okay.
* The annual Thanksgiving trip has been partially scrapped as the boys will be in Florida on Wednesday November 21st but then in Boston on Friday November 23rd for the Thanksgiving Showdown.
* It’s been a few years since the boys played on New Years’ Eve but they get a chance this season as they are in Florida on December 31st. (They’ve only played on NYE twice since the lockout with a 1-0-1 record.)
* The Rangers play the past two Stanley Cup champions in a two day stretch as they host the Kings on February 7th and are at the Bruins on February 9th.
* The team is done with the Devils (unless we meet in the postseason) after a home game on February 26th. (Editors Note: Fine by me.)
* Rangers end the season in Philadelphia on April 13th, which is the busiest day of the season as 28 out of 30 teams are in action. (Vancouver ends their season on 4/11 while the Hurricanes last game is 4/12.)
You can see the entire schedule here. Now let’s just hope we get to play the whole thing.
