2010-2011 Washington Capitals schedule has been released. They open at the Atlanta Thrashers on Friday, Oct. 8. The home opener is the next night against the New Jersey Devils, starting the La Coupe Hauxer (new Web site!) season as well. Speaking of La Coupe Hauxer, it is coming home! This Saturday, we’re having our annual post-season lunch at the Vienna Inn. The Caps won it last year for the first time and I’m eager to have drink from it. I’m more eager for The Maryland Bureau Chief to buy us lunch though, because his Pittsburgh Penguins went from first to worst — he gets the Stanley Screwdriver from previous loser, Wiley, our Philadelphia Flyers representative. The other, 3-time LCH champion, Brad just gets to show up in his New Jersey Devils sweater.

As for the Caps, there are three weeks of the season when the don’t have any home games. There are 3 occasions when they have consecutive games against LCH teams. They don’t have any home & home games over consecutive days. The New Year’s Day game is the Winter Classic in Pittsburgh. The traditional Super Bowl afternoon game is against the Pens too. They don’t play at home on the day before Thanksgiving, but play the day after against the New York Rangers. They actually play on my birthday too, which never happens. I’d be up for seeing them take on the Chicago Blackhawks as part of the celebration.