The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club today released its schedule for the 2012-13 National Hockey League regular season. The Avalanche’s home schedule is highlighted by 20 “weekend” games at Pepsi Center, which includes five on Friday, 11 on Saturday and four on Sunday.

Colorado will open its 17th season in Denver by hosting the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, Oct. 11, at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche’s home slate features a pair of visits from the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings (Dec. 2 and April 7), as well as the 2011 champion Boston Bruins (Feb. 4). The Avs are scheduled for four home afternoon contests, including the season finale on Saturday, April 13, against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Avalanche will face every Eastern Conference team for the fifth straight year, playing a total of 18 games against the East (nine at home, nine away). Colorado will take on Boston, Florida and the New York Rangers twice each (home and away), while meeting the other 12 Eastern opponents once. The Avs’ Eastern Conference home slate features Montreal and Toronto in mid-November, as well as the conference champion New Jersey Devils on Feb. 28.

The Avalanche will play 64 games within its own conference, facing its division rivals six times each (three home, three away) and the other Western Conference teams four times apiece (twice at home).

Colorado will have a total of 13 back-to-back games this season. The Avalanche’s longest homestand is five games (March 14-24), while the longest road trip is also five contests (Dec. 4-13). The Avalanche will have a five-day break in the schedule from Jan. 24-28 for the NHL All-Star Break.

In addition to its regular season schedule, the Avalanche also announced today its preseason schedule. The Avs will play the first of seven exhibition contests on Wednesday, Sept. 26, when they host the Kings at Pepsi Center. Colorado will have three home preseason games overall, as the club will also host Dallas on Oct. 1 and Anaheim on Oct. 3. The Avalanche and Kings will play their annual Frozen Fury in Las Vegas on Saturday, Sept. 29 at the MGM Grand. Colorado will complete the preseason by facing the New York Rangers at the Sprint Center in Kansas City on Saturday, Oct. 6.