The Avs will begin their season at home for the 10th time in the last 13 seasons. Despite playing its first two games at home, the Avalanche will be on the road for much of the early portion of the season, playing 11 of its first 17, 14 of its first 22 and 19 of its first 30 away from Denver. The 2018-19 campaign marks the fourth time in the last seven years that the Avalanche will face the Wild in a season opener (also 2012-13, 2014-15 and 2015-16).

The National Hockey League announced its 2018-19 regular season schedule today, with the Colorado Avalanche set to open the campaign on Thursday, Oct. 4, against the Minnesota Wild at Pepsi Center.

Colorado will play 26 games against its Central Division rivals (13 home/away). The Avs face Chicago and Winnipeg five times each, while meeting Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville and St. Louis four times apiece. The Central is the only NHL division to feature seven clubs instead of eight.

The Avs will play 24 games against Pacific Division teams, meeting each of the eight opponents three times (12 home/away). Colorado will have 32 total games against teams from the Eastern Conference, facing all 16 clubs twice (once at home/away).

The Avalanche is scheduled for 13 afternoon games this season (5 p.m. local start time or earlier), their most since 2002-03 (15). Colorado will play six home afternoon contests at Pepsi Center. The Avs will host a matinee on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the second-straight year on Monday, Jan. 21, facing off against the Nashville Predators.

Colorado will play 12 games in October, the club's most dates in the opening month since 2009-10 (14). The Avalanche will play 14 games in November, December, February and March, while playing 10 in January and four in April.

The Avs will welcome the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals to Pepsi Center on Friday, Nov. 16 and will host the Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights twice (Feb. 18 and March 27). Colorado's longest road trip is five games, Jan. 8-16, while its longest homestand is also five contests from Jan. 19-Feb. 5. The Avs will have the All-Star Break and their "bye week" in the middle of that homestand.

The Avs will host a New Year's Eve game for the sixth consecutive season, as they welcome the Los Angeles Kings to Pepsi Center on Dec. 31. Colorado's schedule features 18 "weekend" games at Pepsi Center, including seven on Friday, 10 on Saturday and one on Sunday. The Avalanche will play a total of 11 back-to-back contests.

Tickets for the preseason and all 41 regular-season home games at Pepsi Center are on sale now. For Full Season and Avs Pack memberships, fans can contact 303.4AVS.NHL. All 82 games can be heard on the Altitude Radio Network, Altitude 950. The complete Altitude Sports & Entertainment television broadcast schedule will be announced at a later time.