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PHOTOS BY Getty Images Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning – Amalie Arena, Tampa, Fla. Seattle Kraken vs. Vegas Golden Knights – T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas The 2021-22 regular season kicks off with the Tampa Bay Lightning raising their third Stanley Cup championship banner before facing the Pittsburgh Penguins at Amalie Arena. Then it's a clash of the expansion franchises as the Seattle Kraken play their first NHL game against the Vegas Golden Knights. St. Louis Blues vs. Minnesota Wild Target Field, Minneapolis I t 's b e e n 14 y e a r s s i n c e t h e N H L dropped the puck on the first Winter Classic in Buffalo, and the game has become a staple of the New Year 's Day sports scene. Originally sched- uled to take place on Jan. 1, 2021, this year's game features Central Division rivals ready to ring in the new year in hard-hitting style. 32 teams. 82 games per team. A total of 1,312 games. The 2021-22 NHL regular season is shaping up to be one heck of a campaign. We've circled six dates on the calendar for some must-see TV. A SIX PACK USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM NHL Preview 28 OF BIG GAMES OPENING NIGHT DOUBLEHEADER OCT. 23 , 2021 JAN. 1, 2022 WINTER CLASSIC IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE NHL IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE NHL HAS THE GREATEST FANS IN THE HAS THE GREATEST FANS IN THE WORLD WORLD. So who can forget how jarring . So who can forget how jarring it was to see empty stadiums hosting it was to see empty stadiums hosting NHL games the past two seasons. NHL games the past two seasons. It looks like all that will change when t looks like all that will change when the puck drops on the 2021-22 season the puck drops on the 2021-22 season as all 32 NHL clubs get ready to wel- as all 32 NHL clubs get ready to wel- come back fans in full force. come back fans in full force. It promises to be a season like no other t promises to be a season like no other as the league welcomes in its 32nd fran- as the league welcomes in its 32nd fran- chise, the Seattle Kraken, and then takes chise, the Seattle Kraken, and then takes a three-week hiatus in February when a three-week hiatus in February when the best players in the world will com- the best players in the world will com- pete at the Beijing Olympics. pete at the Beijing Olympics. Once again there is no shortage of nce again there is no shortage of compelling storylines, from the contin- compelling storylines, from the contin- ued evolution of former No. 1 overall ued evolution of former No. 1 overall pick Jack Hughes in New Jersey, to Don pick Jack Hughes in New Jersey, to Don Granato looking to turn around the for- Granato looking to turn around the for- tunes of the Buffalo Sabres, a team that tunes of the Buffalo Sabres, a team that has not made the playoffs in 10 years. has not made the playoffs in 10 years. There's a rebuilding project going on in There's a rebuilding project going on in Chicago as Seth Jones joins Patrick Kane Chicago as Seth Jones joins Patrick Kane in the hopes of putting the Blackhawks in the hopes of putting the Blackhawks back on top. And the two-time defend- back on top. And the two-time defend- ing Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay ing Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning will look for the threepeat Lightning will look for the threepeat without several key members, including without several key members, including Tyler Johnson and Blake Coleman. Tyler Johnson and Blake Coleman. So let's drop the puck on a brand new o let's drop the puck on a brand new season and celebrate the return of the season and celebrate the return of the game in all its glory. game in all its glory. After Two Seasons Impacted By A Pandemic, The NHL Is Ready To Pull Out All The Stops Build Back Better