Sarah McLellan

azcentral sports

The Arizona Coyotes will make their debut Oct. 9 at Jobing.com Arena when they host the Winnipeg Jets to open the 2014-15 season.

The team, which will officially change its name Friday at the NHL draft, released the schedule for the upcoming season Sunday.

Opening night against the Jets is the first of four consecutive games at home, but the longest homestand of the season is six games.

That actually happens twice — Jan. 3-15 and March 3-14. The Coyotes also have a five-game homestand Dec. 4-16.

The Coyotes will be on the road Jan.17-Feb. 3 — a span of eight games — but that stretch also includes the All-Star break, which is Jan.21-26. The bulk of that trip is during the lead up to the Super Bowl, which will be held in Glendale Feb.1.

They'll also be on the road for four games twice — Oct.28-Nov.2 and Feb.23-28. Both trips are to the East Coast.

The start time for all weekday home games will be 7p.m. except for Oct.15, when the Coyotes host the Oilers at 7:30 p.m.

All Saturday home games will start at 6 p.m. with the exception of Nov. 29 (8 p.m.), Jan.10 (5 p.m.) and March 7 at (5 p.m.). The Coyotes will have one Sunday home game against the Canucks on March 22 at 5 p.m.

The Coyotes play five games against each Pacific Division opponent except the Stanley Cup champion Kings, whom they'll play four times. The Kings visit the Valley the second game of the season, Oct.11, and Dec.4.

The Coyotes play the remaining seven Western Conference teams three times each and also play all 16 Eastern Conference teams twice — once at home and once on the road.

Their schedule also includes 13 back-to-backs.

The Coyotes host Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals on Nov. 8. Zdeno Chara and the Bruins are in town Dec.6, and Sidney Crosby and the Penguins are here March 21.

Besides the Bruins, the other Original Six teams visit the Coyotes on Nov. 4 (Maple Leafs), Feb. 7 (Red Wings), Feb.14 (Rangers), March 7 (Canadiens) and March 12 (Blackhawks).

February could be a challenging month for the Coyotes. In addition to being on the road for nine games, 11 of their 14 total games are against teams that were in the playoffs last season.

But in March, the Coyotes are home for a season-high 10 games.

As it was this past season, the final few weeks of the season could be defining. Their final five games are all against division opponents, including two meetings with the Sharks.

The regular season wraps up April13 at home against the Ducks.