The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
As the National Hockey League's current collective bargaining agreement ends on September 15, it may be wishful thinking to anticipate a full NHL season this fall, but the 88th regular season is set to open on Wednesday, October 13. The Tampa Bay Lightning will hold a banner-raising ceremony prior to the season opener with the Philadelphia Flyers. Prior to the game, Tampa Bay will raise its Southeast Division, Eastern Conference and Stanley Cup championship banners to the ceiling of the St. Pete Times Forum. Tampa Bay defeated Philadelphia in the seventh game of the Eastern Conference Final last season. Other opening night games include the Western Conference Champion Calgary Flames in Anaheim to take on the Mighty Ducks, Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars at Phoenix Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche. There are a few highlights on this year's schedule, including one game being played on a non-NHL site, when the Buffalo Sabres return to the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y. on October 18 to host the Lightning. The Toronto Maple Leafs will host the Boston Bruins in the annual Hockey Hall of Fame Game on Saturday, November 6 On November 8, the HOF induction ceremony will honor Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Larry Murphy and Cliff Fletcher. On Remembrance Day, November 11, Calgary returns to Tampa Bay to play the lightning for the first time since losing game seven of the Stanley Cup final The schedule will pause for All-star Weekend in Atlanta on February 12 and 13. Games will resume on February 15. CBC's Hockey Day In Canada triple-header will take place on February 19, with Ottawa at Montreal, Edmonton at Toronto, and Calgary at Vancouver. All three games will be broadcast. See 'First' P.# Con't from P.# For the first time in NHL history, all 30 teams will be in action on March 26. The previous record was 28 teams in action on one day, which has occurred nine times. Each club will play six games against each of its Division rivals, four games against all non Division clubs in their Conference, once against each club from the other Conference, as well as three additional games against non-Conference opponents. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are scheduled to begin April 13 and are scheduled to conclude no later than June 13.7/15/2004
