Blackhawks host Rangers in NHL opener Oct. 7

NEW YORK (AP) The Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks will host the New York Rangers on Oct. 7 in the NHL season opener. The Blackhawks will be raising

NEW YORK (AP) The Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks will host the New York Rangers on Oct. 7 in the NHL season opener. The Blackhawks will be raising their third championship banner in six seasons.

The league announced its 2015-16 schedule Thursday, and in other games opening night it's San Jose at Los Angeles, Montreal at Toronto and Vancouver at Calgary.

The New York Islanders will host Chicago on Oct. 9 in the first game in their new home at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

On New Year's Day, Boston will host Montreal in the NHL Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium. The league will take a break from Jan. 28-Feb. 1 for the All-Star weekend in Nashville.

The last day of the regular season is April 9.