ST. PAUL -- After enduring a wacky 56-game schedule last season due to the pandemic, the NHL will return to a normal 82-game schedule for the upcoming 2021-22 season.
That means the Wild will go back to playing every team in the league. They also will return to playing in the Central Division along with the Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets.
The season opener for the Wild will be Oct. 15 on the road against the Anaheim Ducks with the home opener to follow on Oct. 19 against the Winnipeg Jets. Some other notable quirks in the 2021-22 regular schedule include the highly anticipated Winter Classic against the St. Louis Blues on New Year’s Day at Target Field, a two-week break in February for the 2022 Winter Olympics and a nine-game homestand that spans most of March.
Here’s a look at the full 82-game regular-season schedule. The start time for each game will be released at a later date.
October
Oct. 15 @ Anaheim Ducks
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Oct. 16 @ Los Angeles Kings
Oct. 19 vs. Winnipeg Jets
Oct. 23 vs. Anaheim Ducks
Oct. 24 vs. Nashville Predators
Oct. 26 @ Vancouver Canucks
Oct. 28 @ Seattle Kraken
Oct. 30 @ Colorado Avalanche
November
Nov. 2 vs. Ottawa Senators
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Nov. 6 @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Nov. 7 vs. New York Islands
Nov. 10 @ Arizona Coyotes
Nov. 11 @ Vegas Golden Knights
Nov. 13 @ Seattle Kraken
Nov. 16 vs. San Jose Sharks
Nov. 18. vs. Dallas Stars
Nov. 20 @ Florida Panthers
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Nov. 21 @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Nov. 24 @ New Jersey Devils
Nov. 26 vs. Winnipeg Jets
Nov. 28 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Nov. 30 vs. Arizona Coyotes
December
Dec. 2 vs. New Jersey Devils
Dec. 4 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Dec. 7 @ Edmonton Oilers
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Dec. 9 @ San Jose Sharks
Dec. 11 @ Los Angeles Kings
Dec. 12 @ Vegas Golden Knights
Dec. 14 vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Dec. 16 vs. Buffalo Sabres
Dec. 18 vs. Florida Panthers
Dec. 20 @ Dallas Stars
Dec. 23 vs. Detroit Red Wings
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Dec. 27 @ Winnipeg Jets
January
Jan. 1 vs. St. Louis Blues
Jan. 3 @ Ottawa Senators
Jan. 6 @ Boston Bruins
Jan. 8 vs. Washington Capitals
Jan. 10 @ Winnipeg Jets
Jan. 12 @ Edmonton Oilers
Jan. 14 vs. Anaheim Ducks
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Jan. 17 @ Colorado Avalanche
Jan. 21 @ Chicago Blackhawks
Jan. 22 vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Jan. 24 vs. Montreal Canadiens
Jan. 28 @ New York Rangers
Jan. 30 @ New York Islanders
February
Feb. 2 @ Chicago Blackhawks
Feb. 5 ALL STAR GAME
Feb. 6-19 OLYMPIC BREAK
Feb. 24 @ Toronto Maple Leafs
Feb. 26 @ Calgary Flames
March
March 1 vs. Calgary Flames
March 3 @ Philadelphia Flyers
March 4 @ Buffalo Sabres
March 6 vs. Dallas Stars
March 8 vs. New York Rangers
March 10 @ Detroit Red Wings
March 11 @ Columbus Blue Jackets
March 13 vs. Nashville Predators
March 16 vs. Boston Bruins
March 19 vs. Chicago Blackhawks
March 21 vs. Vegas Golden Knights
March 24 vs. Vancouver Canucks
March 26 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
March 27 vs. Colorado Avalanche
March 29 vs. Philadelphia Flyers
March 31 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
April
April 2 @ Carolina Hurricanes
April 3 @ Washington Capitals
April 5 @ Nashville Predators
April 8 @ St. Louis Blues
April 9 vs. Los Angeles Kings
April 11 vs. Edmonton Oilers
April 14 @ Dallas Stars
April 16 @ St. Louis Blues
April 17 vs. San Jose Sharks
April 19 @ Montreal Canadiens
April 21 vs. Vancouver Canucks
April 22 vs. Seattle Kraken
April 24 @ Nashville Predators
April 26 vs. Arizona Coyotes
April 28 vs. Calgary Flames
April 29 vs. Colorado Avalanche
