The Columbus Blue Jackets and National Hockey League announced today a 2019-20 regular season schedule in which the club will play 82 games, including 41 home dates at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets will kick off their 19th NHL season on Friday, October 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Nationwide Arena. Game time is set for 7 p.m. ET. The club will open the season with three of its first four games at home with the lone road contest coming at Pittsburgh against the Metropolitan Division-rival Penguins on Saturday, October 5. The Blue Jackets' announcement of the club's 2019-20 schedule is presented by Mike's Hard Lemonade.

This season's schedule will see the Blue Jackets play every team in the NHL at least once at home and once on the road. Columbus will play Metropolitan Division teams a total of 28 times, including 14 games at Nationwide Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals will each visit Nationwide Arena twice. The Blue Jackets will face members of the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division 24 times, including 12 at home. The club will play two home games each against the Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning, while hosting the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs one time.

ENTER TO WIN: Tickets to Opening Night

Overall, the Blue Jackets will play their 82 games over 183 days with 47 games slated for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, including nine Thursday home games, seven Friday home contests and seven Saturday home games at Nationwide Arena. Columbus will also play six times on Sunday, including a pair of games at Nationwide Arena. February is the club's busiest month with 15 contests, followed by November, December and March with 14 games each. Columbus will play a season-high four consecutive home games between February 4-10, hosting Florida, Detroit, Colorado and Tampa Bay. The club's longest road trip of the season-high takes place from March 21-28 and includes stops at Toronto, New Jersey, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay and Dallas. The club will have nine days off between January 23-31. The break will include 2020 All-Star Weekend in St. Louis from January 24-26 and the League-mandated five-day break immediately following All-Star festivities.

A PLAN FOR EVERY FAN: 2019-20 Ticket Plans

In addition to Opening Night vs. the Maple Leafs, highlights of the 2019-20 home schedule include:

Oct. 30 vs. Edmonton: Lone visit by three-time NHL First Team All-Star Connor McDavid and the Oilers

Nov. 5 vs. Vegas: Lone visit to Columbus by the Golden Knights

Nov. 15 vs. St. Louis: Lone appearance at Nationwide Arena of the 2019 Stanley Cup champions

Nov. 29 and Mar. 12 vs. Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby and 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup champions

Dec. 5 and Feb. 14 vs. NY Rangers: Former CBJ President of Hockey Ops John Davidson and Metropolitan rivals visit

Dec. 16 and Mar. 19 vs. Washington: Alex Ovechkin and 2018 Stanley Cup champions

Dec. 29 vs. Chicago: Lone visit by Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and the 2010, '13, '15 Stanley Cup champions

Dec. 31 vs. Florida: Celebrate New Year's Eve

Jan. 14 vs. Boston: Lone home game vs. 2019 Eastern Conference champions in rematch of 2019 2nd round opponents

Feb. 10 and Apr. 2 vs. Tampa Bay: NHL MVP Nikita Kucherov and Lightning visit in rematch of 2019 1st round playoff series