Golden Knights to begin season Jan. 14 against Ducks

The Vegas Golden Knights will open the realigned 2020-21 season with a two-game home series against the Anaheim Ducks, the league announced as the schedule released at noon Wednesday.

Vegas will open the shortened 56-game schedule, in a realigned West Division, on Jan. 14 and 16 against their Southern California rivals at T-Mobile Arena. The Golden Knights follow that with two home games against the Arizona Coyotes, part of a stretch where they will play the first 12 of 16 games in Las Vegas.

Included in that stretch will be the first meeting for newly-signed Alex Pietrangelo against his former team with the St. Louis Blues coming to T-Mobile Arena for a two-game set on Jan. 26-28. Pietrangelo spent the first 12 seasons of his NHL career in St. Louis before signing at seven-year deal with Vegas in the offseason.

The Blues — along with the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild — are moving from the usual Central Division to the would-be Pacific for this season. The Golden Knights and Avalanche will meet for the first time Feb. 14 in the midst of a four-game series, whereas the Wild will not see Vegas until March 1.

Vegas has eight back-to-backs; the first not coming until the end of February at the Ducks.

The Golden Knights begin training camp on Jan. 3 and no preseason games will precede the season.

Here’s the schedule in full, with times to be announced later:

JANUARY:

Thurs. Jan. 14 vs. Anaheim

Sat. Jan. 16 vs. Anaheim

Mon. Jan. 18 vs. Arizona

Wed. Jan. 20 vs. Arizona

Fri. Jan. 22 at Arizona

Sun. Jan. 24 at Arizona

Tues. Jan. 26 vs. St. Louis

Thurs. Jan. 28 vs. St. Louis

FEBRUARY:

Mon. Feb. 1 at San Jose

Wed. Feb. 3 at San Jose

Fri. Feb. 5 vs. Los Angeles

Sun. Feb. 7 vs. Los Angeles

Tue. Feb. 9 vs. Anaheim

Thurs. Feb. 11 vs. Anaheim

Sun. Feb. 14 vs. Colorado

Tues. Feb. 16 vs. Colorado

Sat. Feb. 20 at Colorado

Mon. Feb. 22 at Colorado

Fri. Feb. 26 at Anaheim

Sat. Feb. 27 at Anaheim

MARCH:

Mon. March 1 vs. Minnesota

Wed. March 3 vs. Minnesota

Fri. March 5 at San Jose

Sat. March 6 at San Jose

Mon. March 8 at Minnesota

Wed. March 10 at Minnesota

Fri. March 12 at St. Louis

Sat. March 13 at St. Louis

Mon. March 15 vs. San Jose

Wed. March 17 vs. San Jose

Fri. March 19 at Los Angeles

Sun. March 21 at Los Angeles

Thurs. March 25 at Colorado

Sat. March 27 at Colorado

Mon. March 29 vs. Los Angeles

Wed. March 31 vs. Los Angeles

APRIL:

Thurs. April 1 vs. Minnesota

Sat. April 3 vs. Minnesota

Mon. April 5 at St. Louis

Wed. April 7 at St. Louis

Fri. April 9 vs. Arizona

Sun. April 11 vs. Arizona

Mon. April 12 at Los Angeles

Wed. April 14 at Los Angeles

Fri. April 16 at Anaheim

Sun. April 18 at Anaheim

Mon. April 19 vs. San Jose

Wed. April 21 vs. San Jose

Mon. April 26 vs. Colorado

Wed. April 28 vs. Colorado

Fri. April 30 at Arizona

MAY:

Sat. May 1 at Arizona

Mon. May 3 at Minnesota

Wed. May 5 at Minnesota

Fri. May 7 vs. St. Louis

Sat. May 8 vs. St. Louis