(Photo: mark.watmough/flickr)

The Toronto Maple Leafs will open the 2012-13 season at home against division rival Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, October 13 and end the season exactly the same way six months later.

With the release of the NHL schedule this morning, there are several highlights for the Leafs:

• A five-game homestand from October 30 until November 9.
• Six consecutive away games from January 15-29
• 14 sets of back-to-back games (compared to 17 last season).

The Leafs’ schedule also includes 23 Saturday games, including fifteen at home.

Naturally, the highlight of this upcoming season is the January 1st Winter Classic against the Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

For the full schedule, visit the Leafs website.