Capital's Pre-Season Schedule Released

Let the countdown to hockey season begin in earnest as the 2009 pre-season schedule was released yesterday! Hockey fans can now mark their calendars and count the days until September 21, when the first home game takes place at the Phone Booth against the Buffalo Sabres.

The pre-season lineup also includes a repeat performance against the New York Rangers, except this time we'll see our old friend Donald Brashear wearing Rangers blue for the bottle-tossing John Tortorella! We'll also see the young gun Chicago Blackhawks, who've been surgically enhanced (this still remains to be seen) with the addition of the travelling Marian Hossa.

Also in September, don't forget the Capitals Convention - this is going to be a fabulous event for Caps fans of all ages! Hockey Mom will have all the fun details and breaking news in the weeks to come.

For your planning purposes, here's the 2009 Washington Capitals Pre-Season Schedule:

Date TBA - Buffalo Sabres (HSBC Arena) - TIME TBA

Saturday, September 19 - Chicago Blackhawks (United Center) - 8:30 p.m. (ET)

Monday, September 21 - Buffalo Sabres (Verizon Center) - 7 p.m. (ET)

Wednesday, September 23 - Chicago Blackhawks (Verizon Center) - 7 p.m. (ET)

Thursday, September 24 - New York Rangers (Madison Square Garden) - 7 p.m. (ET)

Sunday, September 27 - New York Rangers (Verizon Center) - Noon

The official season kicks off on October 1 against the big, bad Boston Bruins. Click here for the rest of the schedule and let the puck madness begin!

And while we're on the subject of the Boston Bruins, a big HM high-five to ESPN's Scott Burnside for pointing out the obvious - the crazy factor in forgoing Alexander Ovechkin in favor of the "even more thugnasty than last year's version" Philadelphia Flyers to take on the Bruins in the Winter Classic. The Winter Classic has become one of the biggest marketing tools in the NHL's toolshed for capturing new fans by exposing this great game to a broader demographic. I'm thinking that whoever made the ultimate decision to yet again pass on having the current MVP and most exciting player in the game today featured in next season's Winter Classic was either sleeping or hungover (or both) during that Marketing 101 class.