FOUR GAMES HIGHLIGHT OPENING NIGHT OF 2016-17 SEASON
The NHL drops the puck on the 2016-17 season with a four-game slate, highlighted by the opening of a new arena in Edmonton, the debut of No. 1 overall pick Auston Matthewsand the renewal of a pair of Western Conference rivalries.

* Connor McDavid and the Oilers christen Rogers Place when they face the provincial rival Flames in the first half of a home-and-home series:

All-Time Records in Season Openers
Calgary: 12-20-11 (4-9-6 when on the road)
Edmonton: 19-13-4 (16-8-3 when at home)

All-Time Meetings in Season Openers^ EDM leads 3-2-0 (CGY: 2-3-0)
10/5/82: CGY 5 at EDM 7
10/4/91: EDM 2 at CGY 9
10/3/01: EDM 0 at CGY 1
10/5/06: CGY 1 at EDM 3
10/7/10: CGY 0 at EDM 4

* The Maple Leafs launch their centennial season with the NHL debut of Matthews in the Battle of Ontario against the Senators:

All-Time Records in Season Openers
Toronto: 38-43-17 (14-19-5 when on the road)
Ottawa: 11-6-6 (2-3-2 when at home)

All-Time Meetings in Season Openers^ OTT leads 4-0-0 (TOR: 0-2-2)
10/3/01: OTT 5 at TOR 4
10/5/05: OTT 3 at TOR 2 (SO)
10/4/06: OTT 4 at TOR 1
10/3/07: OTT 4 at TOR 3 (OT)

* The Blues and Blackhawks, who last met in Game 7 of the opening round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs (3-2 W by STL), renew their Central Division rivalry:

All-Time Records in Season Openers
St. Louis: 24-16-8 (11-9-6 when on the road)
Chicago: 38-32-19 (21-10-12 when at home)

All-Time Meetings in Season Openers^ CHI leads 3-2-0 (STL: 2-3-0)
10/11/68: STL 3 at CHI 4
10/11/69: CHI 2 at STL 7
10/9/71: CHI 4 at STL 2
10/7/76: CHI 6 at STL 4
10/5/89: STL 8 at CHI 3

* The reigning Western Conference champion Sharks face the intrastate rival Kings for the first time since eliminating them in the opening round of last year’s postseason (4-1 W):

All-Time Records in Season Openers
Los Angeles: 20-19-9 (9-8-3 when on the road)
San Jose: 10-10-4 (6-5-2 when at home)

All-Time Meetings in Season Openers^ SJS leads 2-0-0 (LAK: 0-2-0)
10/8/14: SJS 4 at LAK 0
10/7/15: SJS 5 at LAK 1

^ Season opener for both clubs

NHL ANNOUNCES OPENING DAY ROSTERS FOR 2016-17
The NHL announced all 30 club rosters for the opening day of the 2016-17 season.

Click here for the complete list.

ICE PLANT ARRIVES IN ADVANCE OF HERITAGE CLASSIC
The 2016 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic Ice Plant arrived at Investors Group Field on Tuesday in advance of the 2016 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic, which will be contested Sunday, Oct. 23, between the Jets and Oilers (3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT, NHLN-US, SN, TVAS2).

Click here for an update on the rink build.

LOOSE PUCKS
The NHL announced the implementation of a number of new policies and procedures to enhance the League’s Concussion Protocol . . . The NHL also announced the renewal of its partnership with Constellation, a leading competitive energy company . . . ICYMI: Ducks defenseman Kevin Bieksa went undercover as a member of the team’s ice crewduring a preseason game . . . The Penguins received their 2015-16 Stanley Cup championship rings, created by Jostens.

the information above was provided by the NHL PR department