The NHL announced on Wednesday morning all the season openers for each team in the league. For the first time in franchise history, the Colorado Avalanche will play its first regular-season game in September. The Avs will play the Los Angeles Kings on September 30th at 8 p.m. at Ball Arena in Denver. It will be the third time in four years that the Avs will open the year against the Kings. The game will also be broadcast on national television on TNT.

This will be the first time the two teams will face each other since the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Colorado swept the Kings in four games during the first round of the playoffs last season. The Kings’ leadership will look a little different this year, though. This will be the first time in 20 years that Anže Kopitar will not be playing, opting to retire at the end of the season. Los Angeles has not named a new captain yet.

Reason for starting September

The NHL will move to an 84-game schedule starting this upcoming season. In order to “keep the season the same length,” they cut two preseason games. Instead of six preseason games, teams will only play four from now on with the new collective bargaining agreement.

October 1, 2009; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche former center Joe Sakic (19) speaks during his jersey retirement ceremony before the game against the San Jose Sharks at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Earliest the Avs have started season

The earliest the Avalanche have started the season since their inception into the NHL as the Quebec Nordiques has been October 1st. Both times were after the team had moved to Denver, once in 1997 and again in 2009. The game in 1997 was against the Dallas Stars and ended in a 2–2 tie. The game in 2009 was more important to the franchise. It was the night the Avs retired Joe Sakic’s number 19 against the San Jose Sharks. Colorado won the match in a 5–2 victory.