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In their season opener, the Capitals will play the Stanley Cup champion Blues on their banner-raising night

By Ian Oland

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June 21, 2019 3:17 pm

The Washington Capitals’ opening games of the 2019-20 season will be rife with narrative and storylines. On October 2, the Capitals will open their season against the St. Louis Blues in a battle between the last two championship-winning teams.

Before the game, the Blues will raise their Stanley Cup Championship banner to the Enterprise Center rafters in a special pregame ceremony.

The Capitals will then hold their home opener three days later on October 5 against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes defeated the Capitals in the first round last season.

This will mark the third time in four seasons the Capitals have either watched another team raise its banner or be involved in one of their own. During the 2016-17 season opener, the Capitals watched the Penguins raise their banner. Last year, the Capitals raised their own. Now the Blues will do the same.

The Capitals’ second game of the regular season will be against Barry Trotz and the New York Islanders on October 4, the Isles’ home opener. The very next night, in the second game of their first back-to-back of the season, the Capitals will host their home opener against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Capitals will play both the Blues and the Hurricanes twice in the preseason as a precursor.

So, you guys, cancel all your plans. The Capitals first regular season game of the 2019-20 season is now only 103 days away.

Is it October yet?

Here is the full list of home openers from the NHL:

Anaheim Ducks: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Arizona
Arizona Coyotes: Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. Boston
Boston Bruins: Saturday, Oct. 12 vs. New Jersey
Buffalo Sabres: Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. New Jersey
Calgary Flames: Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. Vancouver
Carolina Hurricanes: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Montreal
Chicago Blackhawks: Thursday, Oct. 10 vs. San Jose
Colorado Avalanche: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Calgary
Columbus Blue Jackets: Friday, Oct. 4 vs. Toronto
Dallas Stars: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Boston
Detroit Red Wings: Sunday, Oct. 6 vs. Dallas
Edmonton Oilers: Wednesday, Oct. 2 vs. Vancouver
Florida Panthers: Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. Tampa Bay
Los Angeles Kings: Saturday, Oct. 12 vs. Nashville
Minnesota Wild: Saturday, Oct. 12 vs. Pittsburgh
Montreal Canadiens: Thursday, Oct. 10 vs. Detroit
Nashville Predators: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Minnesota
New Jersey Devils: Friday, Oct. 4 vs. Winnipeg
New York Islanders: Friday, Oct. 4 vs. Washington
New York Rangers: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Winnipeg
Ottawa Senators: Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers: Wednesday, Oct. 9 vs. New Jersey
Pittsburgh Penguins: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Buffalo
San Jose Sharks: Friday, Oct. 4 vs. Vegas
St. Louis Blues: Wednesday, Oct. 2 vs. Washington
Tampa Bay Lightning: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Florida
Toronto Maple Leafs: Wednesday, Oct. 2 vs. Ottawa
Vancouver Canucks: Wednesday, Oct. 9 vs. Los Angeles
Vegas Golden Knights: Wednesday, Oct. 2 vs. San Jose
Washington Capitals: Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. Carolina
Winnipeg Jets: Thursday, Oct. 10 vs. Minnesota

More from the Capitals:

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals, in conjunction with the National Hockey League, today announced the club’s season and home opener for the 2019-20 season. Washington will open the season at Enterprise Center on Oct. 2 against the St. Louis Blues, who will raise their first Stanley Cup banner. The Capitals home opener will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena.

The Capitals are 16-2-1-1 all-time in home openers at Capital One Arena and will face Carolina in their home opener for the fourth time in franchise history (2006-07, 2007-08, 2011-12), 3-0-0 record in those games. Washington posted a 4-0-0 record against Carolina last season and is 35-16-2-4 all-time at home. John Carlson (2g, 5a) led the Capitals with seven points in four games against Carolina in 2018-19. Alex Ovechkin recorded six points (4g, 2a) in four games against the Hurricanes last season. Ovechkin’s four goals tied for the most he scored against an opponent in 2018-19 (Detroit, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay). Braden Holtby posted a 4-0-0 record against the Hurricanes last season with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.

The Capitals’ full schedule and League’s complete 1,271-game schedule will be released on Tuesday, June 25 at 12 p.m. ET.

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