Avs open at home vs. Boston

From right, Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic, joins teammates Ruslan Salei, of Belarus, Ian Laperriere (14), T.J. Hensick, and Milan Hejduk, left, of the Czech Republic, after time ran out in the third period of Game 4 of an NHL Western Conference semifinal hockey playoff series in Denver, Thursday, May 1, 2008. Detroit beat Colorado 8-2 to sweep the series. (AP | Jack Dempsey) It is fitting that an Eastern Conference team, the Boston Bruins, will be the opening-night opponent for the Avalanche in the 2008-09 season. The Avalanche's schedule was released Thursday, and unlike the past several seasons, the team will play every Eastern Conference team at least once, starting with the Bruins on Oct. 9 at the Pepsi Center. Under the revised NHL format, divisional games between teams will be reduced from eight to six. The Avs... [read full story]