Flyers release 2010-11 schedule

The Flyers will have a favorable early-season schedule - nine of their first 13 games are at home - when they open defense of their Eastern Conference championship in 2010-11.

It will be the Flyers' first full season under coach Peter Laviolette, who took over Dec. 4 and directed the team to within two wins of their first Stanley Cup since 1975.

The team released its schedule Tuesday for its 44th season, and it includes one matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks, who defeated the Flyers, four games to two, in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The teams will meet Jan. 23 in Chicago.

The Flyers start the season Oct. 7, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins open their new arena, the Consol Energy Center.

On Oct. 11, the Flyers face Colorado in their regular-season home opener. Seven of the Flyers' 41 home games will be played in the afternoon.

"We're anxious to get the season started," said Peter Luukko, president of the Flyers' parent company, Comcast-Spectacor. "We had an incredible postseason run and we want to capitalize on that momentum next season."

For the third straight season, the NHL approved a scheduling matrix that ensures that each club plays every opponent at least once.

Each club plays teams in its own division six times (three times at home, three times on the road) and a total of 24 division matchups. The Flyers were 14-9-1 against Atlantic Division teams in 2009-10.

The Flyers will play four games each against the other 10 Eastern Conference teams. The Flyers were 33-28-3 vs. East teams last season.

Loose pucks. The Flyers are negotiating with the agent for recently acquired defenseman Dan Hamhuis. . . . Fred Shero (an NHL innovator who coached the Flyers to Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975), Eric Lindros and John LeClair were bypassed in the Hall of Fame voting announced Tuesday. Former Flyers Lindros and LeClair were eligible for the first time.