Yesterday the Blues released their pre-season slate, and today the league released the general 2011-2012 NHL schedule, so there wasn't much time to ruminate on what we have in store for the team in September.
From the Blues' official site, here is the preseason schedule:
2011 Blues Preseason Schedule (all game times Central)
Tuesday, Sept. 20 vs. Tampa Bay - 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 21 at Tampa Bay (location TBD) - 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 22 vs. Minnesota - 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 23 at Colorado - 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24 at Dallas - 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Minnesota - 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 29 vs. Colorado - 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 1 vs. Dallas - 1:30 p.m.
Nice of the NHL to photocopy last season's. If you'll notice the location TBD next to the second of the two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, that's due to that game being scheduled to be played at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Since the Atlanta Thrashers are now on their way to Winnipeg, that pre-season game has to be moved elsewhere.
The official season schedule is mildly unkind to the Blues in several spots. It gives no rest for the wicked, which can be good and bad. Good, in that there aren't any large breaks in which they can forget the system or blank out or goof off during, but bad in that they'll be panting for air by the time they reach the home stretch in March and April. The longest break that the team has is over Christmas, when they have five days off between games. The rest of the schedule seems to have at least one full calendar day between games, and the next longest break between games is three days. They have thirteen back to back sets, and for half of those they have another game within a day.
There are only three home games in October. They start off playing Nashville on the 8th, play the Flames on the 10th, and then play the Canes on the 21st. That's it. December and January seem really heavy on the home games, so I suppose that's a good trade off for October.
They play the Blackhawks and Red Wings at home earlier this year than last, but don't go to Chicago until February and Detroit until December. The customary New Year's Eve game against the Red Wings is back, though.
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