AHL to host seven NHL preseason games

American Hockey League cities will play host to seven National Hockey League preseason games this fall, according to the schedule released by the NHL today.

The NHL preseason will run from Sept. 16 to Oct. 2, offering fans their first look at a host of superstars making debuts with their new clubs following the busiest off-season in league history, as well as a series of rule changes designed to emphasize entertainment, flow, skill and scoring chances.

Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins are involved in four of those games. The Pens take on Brian Leetch and the Boston Bruins at the Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Sept. 21, meet reigning AHL MVP Jason Spezza and the Ottawa Senators in a home-and-home on Sept. 23 (at Binghamton) and Sept. 24 (at Wilkes-Barre), and battle Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals at the Giant Center in Hershey on Sept. 25.

In addition to their trip to Wilkes-Barre, Boston will face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton on Sept. 20, and against the New York Islanders at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester on Sept. 25.

Finally, the Buffalo Sabres meet the Minnesota Wild at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester on Sept. 30.

The AHL’s preseason schedule will be announced later this summer.

Date Teams Site Time
Sept. 20 Boston vs. Toronto Hamilton 7:30 ET
Sept. 21 Boston vs. Pittsburgh Wilkes-Barre 7:00 ET
Sept. 23 Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa Binghamton 7:00 ET
Sept. 24 Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh Wilkes-Barre 7:00 ET
Sept. 24 N.Y. Islanders vs. Boston Manchester 7:00 ET
Sept. 25 Pittsburgh vs. Washington Hershey 5:00 ET
Sept. 30 Minnesota vs. Buffalo Rochester 7:30 ET