The Nashville Predators will begin the 2023-24 NHL season — literally.
The Predators will be on the road against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 10, the first of three games scheduled leaguewide for opening night.
Nashville’s home opener at Bridgestone Arena will be two days later against the Seattle Kraken.
Former Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm will return with the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 17, his first game here since he was traded.
The Predators’ schedule includes a pair of five-game road trips and a pair of five-game homestands. Former Predators center Ryan Johansen will be in town Nov. 20 with the Colorado Avalanche, his first game since his trade.
The Predators will play 15 games in December, the most of any month during the season.
New Predators coach Andrew Brunette will face his former team, the Florida Panthers, for the first time in his new job on Jan. 22.
The team also will play nine back-to-backs.
Nashville Predators 2023-24 schedule
October
10: at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m.
12: vs. Seattle, 7 p.m.
14: at Boston, 6 p.m.
17: vs. Edmonton, 7 p.m.
19: at N.Y. Rangers, 6 p.m.
21: vs. San Jose, 7 p.m.
24: vs. Vancouver, 8:15 p.m.
28: vs. Toronto, 6 p.m.
31: at Vancouver, 9 p.m.
November
2: at Seattle, 9 p.m.
4: at Edmonton, 2 p.m.
7: at Calgary, 8 p.m.
9: at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
11: vs. Arizona, 7 p.m.
14: vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m.
18: vs. Chicago, 1 p.m.
20: vs. Colorado, 7 p.m.
22: vs. Calgary, 8 p.m.
24: at St. Louis 2 p.m.
26: vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
28: vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
30: at Washington, 6 p.m.
December
2: vs. N.Y. Rangers, 3:30 p.m.
3: at Buffalo, 6 p.m.
5: at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
7: vs. Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
9: at Toronto, 6 p.m.
10: at Montreal, 6 p.m.
12: vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
15: at Carolina, 6 p.m.
16: vs. Washington, 7 p.m.
19: vs. Vancouver, 7 p.m.
21: at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.
23: vs. Dallas, 2 p.m.
27: vs. Carolina, 7 p.m.
29: at Detroit, 6 p.m.
30: at Washington, 6 p.m.
January
2: vs. Chicago, 7 p.m.
4: vs. Calgary, 7 p.m.
6: at Dallas, 7 p.m.
9: vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m.
12: at Dallas, 7 p.m.
13: vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
15: at Vegas, 9 p.m.
18: at Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m.
20: at Arizona, 2 p.m.
22: vs. Florida, 7 p.m.
25: at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
27: at Edmonton, 3 p.m.
29: at Ottawa, 6 p.m.
31: vs. Los Angeles, 6:30 p.m.
February
10: vs. Arizona, 7 p.m.
13: vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.
15: vs. Dallas, 8 p.m.
17: at St. Louis, 4 p.m.
20: at Vegas, 9 p.m.
22: at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.
24: at San Jose, 9 p.m.
25: at Anaheim, 7 p.m.
27: vs. Ottawa, 7 p.m.
29: vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.
March
2: vs. Colorado, 5 p.m.
5: vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.
7: vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m.
9: at Columbus, 11:30 a.m.
10: at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m.
13: at Winnipeg, 6:30 p.m.
16: at Seattle, 9 p.m.
19: vs. San Jose, 7 p.m.
21: at Florida, 6 p.m.
23: vs. Detroit, 4 p.m.
26: vs. Vegas, 7 p.m.
28: at Arizona, 9 p.m.
30: at Colorado, 5 p.m.
April
2: vs. Boston, 7 p,m,
4: vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m.
6: at N.Y Islanders, 6:30 p.m.
7: at New Jersey, 6 p.m.
9: vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
12: at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
13: vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.
15: at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators’ 2023-24 schedule: Full list of dates, start times