Canucks to host Phoenix in Opener

The 2005 season gets underway on October 5th and the Canucks will be at home facing the Phoenix Coyotes.

The complete Canucks schedule is available at NHL.com

Some highlights and notes:

• Oddly Vancouver plays 2 straight away games in Colorado on Oct 27 & 29th. They do the same in Calgary on Nov 5 & 7th.
• The Canucks will get the Leafs, Senators, Bruins, Sabres, and the Canadiens at home... no Crosby this year.
• The Canucks will be out East to face the Rangers, Flyers, Devils, Islanders and Penguins. For some reason that's two road trips instead of one.
• Longest road trip: 7 games, Jan 23 to Feb 4th. Nice trip travel wise compared to the old trips out East.
• Longest homestand: 6 games during the holiday season, Dec 17 to 28th.
• The Canucks finish the season on April 15, 2006 at home against the Avalanche.

No TV schedule as of yet but there will be a "Hockey Day In Canada". The triple-header is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 7. Ottawa visits Montreal, Toronto is at Edmonton and Calgary is at Vancouver.