The Penguins will open the regular season on the road for the third time in five seasons when they visit the Dallas Stars on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 8:30 p.m.

Following a brief two-game road trip to begin the year – including an Oct. 10 visit to Arizona – the Penguins return to CONSOL Energy Center for their home opener on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. against the defending Atlantic Division champion Montreal Canadiens.

The home opener versus the Canadiens starts a season-long five game homestand that includes visits from Ottawa, Toronto, Florida and Dallas before concluding on Oct. 22 when the Stars and defending NHL scoring champion Jamie Benn invade CONSOL Energy Center.

Pittsburgh travels west earlier this season than in past years.

The annual pilgrimage to Western Canada begins on Nov. 4 in Vancouver and continues with back-to-back visits to Edmonton and Calgary Nov. 6-7.

From Dec. 1-9 the Penguins will play four games against the Sharks, Kings, Ducks and Avalanche, respectively.

Following the Penguins’ Jan. 18 visit to St. Louis, Pittsburgh will play its remaining 37 regular-season games in the Eastern Time Zone.

Other schedule highlights:

*The Penguins and defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks will play a back-to-back home-and-home series beginning in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Jan. 5.

*Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Eastern Conference’s Stanley Cup finalist, visit Pittsburgh for the only time on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 12:30 p.m.

*If you’re looking to see the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers, you’ll have to wait until the second half of the year. Pittsburgh’s first meeting with Philadelphia isn’t until Thursday, Jan. 21 at CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins and Rangers meet for the first time on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. in Pittsburgh.

*Pittsburgh’s first chance to check out the Barclays Center – the new home of the Metropolitan Division rival New York Islanders – isn’t until March 8 in Brooklyn.

*Edmonton, which owns the top pick in Friday’s NHL Draft, makes its only visit to CONSOL Energy Center on Saturday, Nov. 28.

Pittsburgh will play 30 games against the Metropolitan Division, including five games against the Capitals (2 home; 3 road) and Carolina (3 home; 2 road). The Penguins will play the other five teams in the division four times each (2 home; 2 road).

Metropolitan Division Breakdown Team Home Road Carolina Dec. 19 Jan. 17 Mar. 17 Jan. 12 Feb. 12 Columbus Nov. 13 Dec. 21 Nov. 27 Mar. 11 New Jersey Jan. 26 Mar. 24 Nov. 14 Mar. 6 NY Islanders Jan. 2 Mar. 15 Mar. 8 Apr. 2 NY Rangers Feb. 10 Mar. 3 Mar. 13 Mar. 27 Philadelphia Jan. 21 Apr. 3 Mar. 19 Apr. 9 Washington Dec. 14 Mar. 20 Oct. 28 Jan. 24 Apr. 7

The Penguins will face the eight Atlantic Division teams three times each, with the home/road breakdown below:

Atlantic Division Breakdown Team Home Road Buffalo Oct. 29 Mar. 29 Feb. 21 Montreal Oct. 13 Nov. 11 Jan. 9 Ottawa Oct. 15 Feb. 2 Apr. 5 Toronto Oct. 17 Dec. 30 Oct. 31 Boston Dec. 18 Dec. 16 Feb. 24 Detroit Feb. 18 Dec. 31 Mar. 26 Florida Oct. 20 Feb. 6 Feb. 15 Tampa Feb. 20 Jan. 15 Feb. 5

See the full schedule below: