The Colorado Avalanche announced today that the team's home opener for the 2016-17 season will be against the Dallas Stars on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Pepsi Center.

The last time Colorado played its first home game of the season against Dallas was in the 2007-08 campaign. The Avs have also had home openers versus the Stars in 1997-98, 2002-03 and 2006-07.

Because of the return of the World Cup of Hockey, the Oct. 15 date marks the team's latest home start since it moved from Quebec in 1995. The latest Avs home opener prior to this season was against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 14 of the 2000-01 season, while the latest first home game in franchise history was when the Quebec Nordiques played host to the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 29 of the 1980-81 campaign.

As previously announced, Colorado will also play Dallas twice during the preseason, hosting the Stars on Sept. 28 before traveling to the American Airlines Center on Oct. 5.



The Avalanche will open its preseason slate on Sept. 27 at the Minnesota Wild and will host its division foe on Oct. 4. Colorado also faces the Los Angeles Kings at Pepsi Center on Sept. 30 and will play the Kings again on Oct. 8 at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The full 2016-17 schedule is expected to be released by the league on Tuesday.