Habs Schedule: 2015-16 Breakdown

The National Hockey League and it's member clubs released their schedules in late June for the 2015-16 season. The season will begin on October 7th with 4 games which include Montreal vs. Toronto, New York Rangers vs. Chicago, Vancouver vs. Calgary, and San Jose vs. Los Angeles. Other special dates include the Winter Classic which will feature the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins renewing their rivalry on New Year's Day at Gillette Stadium - Home of the New England Patriots. The 2015-16 season will feature two Stadium Series games. The first one will take place at TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota which will host the Minnesota Wild and the Chicago Blackhawks on February 21st. Less than a week later, on February 27th the Colorado Avalanche will host the Detroit Red Wings at Coors Field, known for hosting the Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball club. The 61st edition of the National Hockey League All-Star Game will be held in Tennessee for the first time on January 31st at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Click HERE to view the rest of the 2015-16 National Hockey League regular season schedule. Click HERE to view the 2015-16 Montreal Canadiens regular season schedule. Below, All About The Habs breaks down the 2015-16 regular season for Montreal. The Habs will play 82 regular season games with the following structure: Games vs. divisional opponents: 30 (4 or 5 per team) Games vs. non-divisional, conference opponents: 24 (3 per team) Games vs. Western Conference opponents: 28 (2 per team) Home and Away Games by Month October Home: 4 (NYR, DET, STL, TOR) Away: 8 (TOR, BOS, OTT, PIT, BUF, VAN, EDM, CGY) November Home: 9 (WPG, OTT, NYI, BOS, COL, VAN, ARI, NYI, NJ) Away: 4 (PIT, NYI, NYR, NJ) December Home: 6 (CBJ, WAS, BOS, OTT, SJ, LA) Away: 8 (CAR, DET, DAL, NSH, MIN, WSH, TBL, FLA) January Home: 5 (NJ, PIT, CHI, BOS, CBJ) Away: 6 (BOS, PHI, STL, CHI, TOR, CBJ) February Home: 7 (BUF, EDM, CAR, TBL, PHI, NSH, TOR) Away: 6 (PHI, BUF, ARI, COL, WSH, SJ) March Home: 8 (DAL, BUF, MIN, FLA, CGY, ANA, NYR, DET) Away: 7 (ANA, LA, WPG, BUF, OTT, DET, TBL) April Home: 2 (FLA, TBL) Away: 2 (FLA, CAR)

Strength of Schedule by Month The graph above displays the average 2014-15 point percentage of opponents per month. Point percentage is calculated by the number of points a team had (Wins + Overtime Losses + Shootout Losses) divided into the maximum number of points a team can earn (164). For example, last season the Montreal Canadiens had earned 110 out of a possible 164, so their point percentage last season was .670%. Based on records last season, the easiest month for the Habs this season should be February. The month of February will see Montreal face Buffalo twice, Edmonton, Arizona, Carolina, Toronto, and several other bottom teams from last year. But as we all remember, facing easy teams does not guarantee a win as displayed from their 1-2-1 record against the last place Buffalo Sabres last season. But December is a different story. The Habs will find themselves on the ice against teams that earned over a .600% last season seven times in 14 games. Exactly half of them. The average 2014-15 point percentage of December opponents will be a season high .582%. Rivalries vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Wed, Oct. 7 / 2015 - 7pm (AWAY) Sat, Oct. 24 / 2015 - 7pm (HOME) Sat, Jan. 23 / 2016 - 7pm (AWAY) vs. Boston Bruins Sat, Feb. 27 / 2016 - 7pm (HOME) Sat, Oct. 10 / 2015 - 7pm (AWAY) Sat, Nov. 7 / 2015 - 7pm (HOME) Wed, Dec. 9 / 2015 - 7:30pm (HOME) Fri, Jan. 1 / 2016 - 1pm (AWAY) vs. Ottawa Senators Tue, Jan. 19 / 2016 - 7:30pm (HOME) Sun, Oct. 11 / 2015 - 7pm (AWAY) Tue, Nov. 3 / 2015 - 7:30pm (HOME) Sat, Dec. 12 / 2015 - 7pm (HOME) Sat, Mar. 19 / 2016 - 7pm (AWAY) Other Games to Watch Season Opener - vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday, October 7th / 2015 - 7:00pm Home Opener - vs. New York Rangers Thursday, October 15th / 2015 - 7:30pm 2016 Winter Classic vs. Boston Bruins at Gillette Stadium Friday, January 1st / 2016 - 1:00pm vs. 2015 Stanley Cup Champions - Chicago Blackhawks Thursday, January 14th / 2016 - 7:30pm Sunday, January 17th / 2016 - 7:00pm vs. Brandon Prust - Vancouver Canucks Tuesday, October 27th / 2015 - 10:00pm Monday, November 16th / 2015 - 7:30pm 300th Game vs. Buffalo Sabres Friday, February 12th / 2016 - 7:00pm vs. Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) & Jack Eichel (Buffalo Sabres) BUFFALO: Friday, October 23rd / 2015 - 7:00pm EDMONTON: Thursday, October 29th / 2015 - 9:00pm BUFFALO: Wednesday, February 3rd / 2016 - 7:00pm EDMONTON: Saturday, February 6th / 2016 - 2:00pm BUFFALO: Friday, February 12th / 2016 - 7:00pm BUFFALO: Thursday, March 10th / 2016 - 7:30pm BUFFALO: Wednesday, March 16th / 2016 - 7:00pm Number of Games by Day Mondays: 7 (2014-15: 7) Tuesdays: 18 (2014-15: 19) Wednesdays: 10 (2014-15: 6) Thursdays: 13 (2014-15: 17) Fridays: 7 (2014-15: 5) Saturdays: 21 (2014-15: 22) Sundays: 6 (2014-15: 6)