The Pittsburgh Penguins are scheduled to play 14 games in January, five at home and nine on the road.
The new year will begin with two away games, followed by five at home before heading across the continent to California and Utah to finish out the month.
Here are some contests fans should mark on their calendars during the first month of the season.
3. January 9 vs. Edmonton Oilers
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The Penguins will travel to Edmonton in October to relive the Sidney Crosby vs. Connor McDavid showdown, with the second matchup coming up in January at PPG Paints Arena.
With Crosby yet to sign a contract extension and his future uncertain, this may be the last time they meet while playing for their respective teams.
But as an optimistic fan, I believe this contest will be one of many to come.
2. Jan. 18 vs. Washington Capitals
The most talked-about rivalry in the league since the 2004-2025 NHL lockout is between Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. Now, neither would admit they are “rivals,” but each has been chasing their own milestones this season, and when they face off, both tend to take their performance to the next level.
By this matchup, Crosby will have played in 1,300 games and recorded his 1,600th point and 600th goal, but Ovechkin needs 41 more goals to chase Wayne Gretzky’s goal record. How close will the Great Eight be by the time the two teams meet in mid-January?
1. January 29 vs. Utah Hockey Club
The Penguins will depart Buffalo on January 17 and head to Washington before heading to California, with their first stop being Los Angeles, followed by Anaheim, then north to Seattle, before stopping in San Jose and heading to Salt Lake City for the first time.
The former Coyotes are a team on the rise, having revamped their roster with hopes of becoming a playoff team by the end of the season, and since the Delta Center is a basketball arena, it will be interesting for the Penguins and their traveling fans to see how it gets renovated for NHL hockey.
Though the Pittsburgh-Arizona rivalry is over, the black and gold can begin a new chapter with a new franchise in front of fans who will get to see Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and possibly Rutger McGroarty for the first time.
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