Flyers up first for 2011-12 Bruins; Canucks come in Jan. 7

The Bruins will open their defense of the Stanley Cup championship next fall along a longtime rival.

The Philadelphia Flyers will visit TD Garden Oct. 6 to open the NHL regular season against the Bruins as one of three games that evening.

The 2011-12 NHL schedule, which was released today, also includes a Stanley Cup Final rematch Jan. 7, when the Vancouver Canucks come to Boston for a matinee.

Here’s a look at the complete Bruins schedule:

Oct. 6 Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 8 Tampa Bay, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 10 Colorado, 1:00 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Carolina, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 15 at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 Carolina, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 20 Toronto, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 22 San Jose, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 27 Montreal, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 29 at Montreal, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 1 Ottawa, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 5 at Toronto, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 7 N.Y. Islanders, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 10 Edmonton, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 12 Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 15 New Jersey, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 17 Columbus, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 19 at N.Y. Islanders, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 21 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 23 at Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 25 Detroit, 1:00 p.m.

Nov. 26 Winnipeg, 7:00 p.m.

Nov. 30 at Toronto, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 3 Toronto, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 5 at Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 6 at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 Florida, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 10 at Columbus, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 13 Los Angeles, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 14 at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 17 at Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m.

Dec. 19 Montreal, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 23 Florida, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 28 at Phoenix, 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 31 at Dallas, 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 4 at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 5 Calgary, 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 7 Vancouver, 1:00 p.m.

Jan. 10 Winnipeg, 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 12 Montreal, 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 14 at Carolina, 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 16 at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 17 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 at New Jersey, 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 21 N.Y. Rangers, 1:00 p.m.

Jan. 22 at Philadelphia, 3:00 p.m.

Jan. 24 at Washington, 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 31 Ottawa, 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 2 Carolina, 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 4 Pittsburgh, 1:00 p.m.

Feb. 5 at Washington, 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 8 at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 11 Nashville, 1:00 p.m.

Feb. 14 N.Y. Rangers, 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 15 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 17 at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 19 at Minnesota, 2:00 p.m.

Feb. 22 at St. Louis, 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 24 at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 25 at Ottawa, 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 28 Ottawa, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 1 New Jersey, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 3 N.Y. Islanders, 1:00 p.m.

Mar. 4 at N.Y. Rangers, 3:00 p.m.

Mar. 6 at Toronto, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 8 Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 10 Washington, 1:00 p.m.

Mar. 11 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 13 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 15 at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 17 Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m.

Mar. 19 Toronto, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 22 at San Jose, 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 24 at Los Angeles, 1:00 p.m.

Mar. 25 at Anaheim, 5:00 p.m.

Mar. 27 Tampa Bay, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 29 Washington, 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 31 at N.Y. Islanders, 1:00 p.m.

Apr. 1 at N.Y. Rangers, 3:00 p.m.

Apr. 3 Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m.

Apr. 5 at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

Apr. 7 Buffalo, 3:00 p.m.