ARIZONA COYOTES
Coyotes to face Golden Knights in 2017-18 home opener
Arizona Coyotes center Christian Dvorak (18) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens with left wing Max Domi (16) and left wing Jamie McGinn (88) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
When the Arizona Coyotes take their home ice for the first time in the 2017-18 season, they will do so against the NHL’s newest team.
The Coyotes announced Wednesday that their Oct. 7 home opener will have them pitted against the Vegas Golden Knights, with puck drop slated for 6 p.m.
Obviously, this will be the first time the Coyotes have matched up with the expansion club, and it turns out Arizona will travel to Vegas for the new club’s home opener a few days later.
“We are excited to play the Golden Knights in our home opener,” said Coyotes General Manager John Chayka. “It’s a natural rival and I hope it evolves that way. Vegas is going to have a pretty good team as an expansion team. For us to have a team so close will be a real positive and exciting for the fans.”
The Coyotes are 14-5-1 in home openers since moving to Arizona in 1996, and the rest of their 2017-18 schedule will be released on June 22.
