The Islanders have 10 of their first 13 games of the 2016-17 season at home and then finish the season with 17 of the last 24 on the road.
Next season’s schedule was released Tuesday afternoon and the Isles, as has been the case in past seasons both in Brooklyn and Nassau Coliseum, have a slew of home games against non-rivals in the opening month of the season. Following the season opener in Madison Square Garden against the Rangers and a trip to Washington to face the Caps, the Isles open their home season on Oct. 16 against the Ducks.
Only one Metro Division opponent, the Flyers, is among the 10 teams that come to Barclays Center over the next 11 games.
The Isles also vacate the area for a nine-game road trip in late February and early March that starts in Detroit on Feb. 21, features a five-day layoff, then goes through western Canada and finishes in St. Louis on March 11.
The Isles close the regular season at Barclays Center against the Senators on Sunday, April 9. That 5 p.m. start is one of nine weekend home games this season that start earlier than 7 p.m. Most of those are 6 p.m. starts on Sundays, with only one Saturday afternoon game at home, on March 18 against the Blue Jackets.
..... - Newsday