NHL 2008-09 Preseason Schedule

The NHL released its 2008-09 110-game preseason schedule that last from Sept. 20 through Oct. 6, and the slate takes on a robust international flavor.

The Ottawa Senators will host the New York Rangers to open the NHL preseason on Saturday, Sept. 20 (7pm EST) before playing an exhibition game in Sweden on Oct. 2 against Frolunda in Gothenburg, the hometown of Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson.

The Sens will remain in Sweden to open the NHL betting regular season with two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Stockholm on Oct. 4 and 5.

Also on Sept. 20, the Tampa Bay Lightning get their preseason game on at 7:30pm EST when they visit the Steel City to face the Pens, who were Stanley Cup runner-ups last season. Sidney Crosby and company will be wicked good again in the 2008-09 campaign.

The defending Cup champion Detroit Red Wings will see its first preseason action on Wednesday, Sept. 24 when they host the Montreal Canadiens at 7:30pm EST. The Wings are BetUS NHL odds on favorites to again hoist the Cup this upcoming season.

Following its game versus the Pens on opening night of preseason, the Lightning visits Europe on Sunday, Sept. 28 for a game against 2008 German league champion Eisbaren Berlin in the German capital at the new 02 World Arena, starting at 10am EST.

The Rangers will face 11-time Swiss league champion SC Bern on Tuesday, Sept. 30 (Noon EST) at PostFinance Arena, then battle Russian team Metallurg Magnitogorsk in Bern, Switzerland on Wednesday, Oct. 1 (1:45pm EST) at the same site as the two play for the Victoria Cup.

Highlighting exhibition play in North America, the Philadelphia Flyers will play a final game in their former home, the Wachovia Spectrum, when they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Sept. 27. The famed Spectrum, which is scheduled to say farewell in the spring of 2009, was the Flyers' home from the team's inaugural season in 1967 through 1996.

The preseason NHL wagering schedule features several other contests that will be played outside NHL markets within North America, including Halifax, N.S. (Boston vs. Montreal, Sept. 22 and Boston vs. Detroit, Sept. 25); Kansas City, Mo. (Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Sept. 22); Moncton, N.B. (Boston vs. NY Islanders, Sept. 23); Winnipeg (Calgary vs. Phoenix, Sept. 24); London, Ont. (NY Islanders vs. Philadelphia, Sept. 25) Summerside, P.E.I. (Florida vs. NY Islanders, Sept. 27); Las Vegas, Nev. (Colorado vs. Los Angeles, Sept. 27) and Salt Lake City, Utah (Los Angeles vs. San Jose, Oct. 5).