RALEIGH, NC – The National Hockey League today announced the 2011-12 regular-season schedules for its 30 member clubs. The Carolina Hurricanes will open the season at the RBC Center on Oct. 7, with a 7 p.m. game against Southeast Division rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning

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The Hurricanes will play a total of four home games in October, including match ups against the two most recent Stanley Cup champions. The Boston Bruins will visit Raleigh on Wednesday, Oct. 12, and the Chicago Blackhawks round out Carolina’s October home schedule on Friday, Oct. 28.

In November, the Hurricanes will play 10 home games, including tilts against division-rival Washington (Nov. 4) and perennial Eastern Conference power Pittsburgh (Nov. 12). Along with November home games against Dallas, Philadelphia and Toronto, Carolina will host the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, Nov. 18. The Hurricanes will also play games on the Wednesday and Friday surrounding Thanksgiving, as Montreal visits the RBC Center on Nov. 23 and Winnipeg makes its first trip to Raleigh on Friday, Nov. 25.

The New York Rangers will play their first of two games at the RBC Center on Dec. 1, before the Penguins return for their second game of the season in Raleigh on Saturday, Dec. 3. In all, the Hurricanes will play seven home games in December, including games against Ottawa on Dec. 23, and against New Jersey on Dec. 26, surrounding the NHL’s two-day holiday break.

The Hurricanes will kick of 2012 with a Tuesday, Jan. 3, match up at the RBC Center against the New York Islanders, before Buffalo visits again on Friday, Jan. 6. Carolina’s home schedule in January also includes meetings against Philadelphia, Boston and Winnipeg.

On Feb. 20, the Hurricanes will begin a six-game home stand against the Washington Capitals. Following that game, Anaheim (Feb. 23), Florida (Feb. 25), Nashville (Feb. 28), the Rangers (March 1) and Tampa Bay, will all visit Raleigh in Carolina’s longest home stand since the 2007-08 season.

The Hurricanes will play six of their 16 March games at the RBC Center before rounding out the 2011-12 home schedule against Montreal on April 5. Carolina’s final game of the regular season will take place on Saturday, April 7, at Florida.

In all, the Hurricanes will play 16 sets of back-to-back games during the 2011-12 season, 15 of which involve travel. Of Carolina’s 41 games at the RBC Center, 19 fall on Fridays (10), Saturdays (7) and Sundays (2).