NHL Announces 2013-2014 Schedule with Winter Olympics Considerations

NEW YORK (AP) — Players from the National Hockey League are Olympic bound. A deal has been reached that will send the world's best players to Sochi, Russia, next February. This marks the fifth straight Olympics dating to Nagano in 1998 that the NHL will allow its players to participate. The league will take a break from the regular season Feb. 9 and return to action Feb. 26. The hockey tournament runs Feb. 12-23.

NHL-2013-14 SCHEDULE

NEW YORK (AP) — Opening night Oct. 1 will feature the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks hosting Washington. The regular NHL season concludes April 13, with the playoffs beginning three days later.

A four-game NHL Stadium Series will feature Southern California rivals Anaheim and Los Angeles facing off in Dodger Stadium on Jan. 25. The Rangers will take on their local rivals, the Devils and Islanders, in a pair of games at Yankee Stadium three days apart. First up will be the Rangers and Devils in a Jan. 26 matinee, followed by the Rangers and Islanders in prime time on Jan. 29.

The last will be a matchup between the Penguins and Blackhawks at Soldier Field, the home of the Chicago Bears, on March 1 at night.