The Columbus Blue Jackets and National Hockey League announced today a 2012-13 regular season schedule in which the club will play 48 games, including 24 home games at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets will open the season on Saturday, January 19 when they visit the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Columbus will play its first home game two nights later, hosting the Detroit Red Wings at Nationwide Arena on Monday, January 21. Game time is 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.

The 2012-13 schedule has the Blue Jackets playing 48 games vs. Western Conference opponents in a span of 99 days, concluding with a Saturday, April 27 home game vs. Nashville. The club will play 18 games vs. Central Division rivals, while facing off against clubs from the Northwest and Pacific Divisions 30 times.

The Blue Jackets will play division opponents Detroit (three at home, two on the road) and Nashville (two at home and three on the road) five times each with four games (two at home and two on the road) against division foes Chicago and St. Louis. The club will play eight home and seven road games vs. Northwest Division clubs and seven home and eight road games against Pacific Division opponents. A complete breakdown of the schedule is below:

SCHEDULE BY OPPONENT

Central Division (9 Home/9 Away)

Chicago (2H/2A) – Jan. 26, Feb. 24, Mar. 1, Mar. 14

Detroit (3H/2A) – Jan. 21, Feb. 2, Feb. 21, Mar. 9, Mar. 10

Nashville (2H/3A) – Jan. 19, Mar. 19, Mar. 23, Apr. 4, Apr. 27

St. Louis (2H/2A) – Jan. 31, Feb. 23, Apr. 5, Apr. 12

Northwest Division (8 Home/7 Away)

Calgary (2H/1A) – Feb. 7, Mar. 22, Mar. 29

Colorado (1H/2A) – Jan. 24, Mar. 3, Apr. 15

Edmonton (2H/1A) – Feb. 10, Mar. 5, Mar. 28

Minnesota (1H/2A) – Jan. 29, Apr. 7, Apr. 13

Vancouver (2H/1A) – Mar. 7, Mar. 12, Mar. 26

Pacific Division (7 Home/8 Away)

Anaheim (1H/2A) – Feb. 18, Mar. 31, Apr. 17

Dallas (2H/1A) – Jan. 28, Feb. 26, Apr. 25

Los Angeles (1H/2A) – Feb. 5, Feb. 15, Apr. 18

Phoenix (1H/2A) – Jan. 23, Feb. 16, Mar. 16

San Jose (2H/1A) – Feb. 11, Apr. 9, Apr. 21

GAMES BY DAY – MON (3H/2A), TUE (6H/2A), WED (0H/2A), THU (4H/6A), FRI (2H/4A), SAT (5H/5A), SUN (4H/3A)

GAMES BY MONTH – JAN (4H/4A), FEB (6H/6A), MAR (10H/6A), APR (4H/8A)

BACK-TO-BACK GAMES – 11 times

CLICK HERE to view the 2012-2013 Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule