2012-13 Schedule Matrix - Still Waiting

The schedule matrix for the Penguins should be coming soon! Photo from theahl.com.

We're already two weeks past last year's announcement of the schedule matrix so I figured I'd bring up the topic before it's too late.  The full schedule on who plays who on which dates won't be released until mid-August.  But the matrix of how many times you play each team should be coming soon, especially since the NBA's schedule is supposedly being released today.

Here's a look at the Penguins matrix from last season (2011-12):

EAST DIVISION
Hershey Bears (Washington) (12 games - 6H/6A)
Binghamton Senators (Ottawa) (10 games - 5H/5A)
Norfolk Admirals (Tampa Bay) (10 games - 5H/5A)
Syracuse Crunch (Anaheim) (8 games - 4H/4A)
TOTAL (40 games - 20H/20A)

NORTHEAST DIVISION
Albany Devils (New Jersey) (4 games - 2H/2A)
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) (4 games - 2H/2A)
Connecticut Whale (New York Rangers) (4 games - 2H/2A)
Springfield Falcons (Columbus Blue Jackets) (4 games - 2H/2A)
Adirondack Phantoms (Philadelphia) (2 games - 1H/1A)
TOTAL (18 games - 9H/9A)

ATLANTIC DIVISION
Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings) (4 games - 2H/2A)
Portland Pirates (Phoenix Coyotes) (4 games - 2H/2A)
St. John’s (Winnipeg Jets) (4 games - 2H/2A)
Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins) (2 games - 1H/1A)
Worcester Sharks (San Jose Sharks) (2 games - 1H/1A)
TOTAL (16 games - 8H/8A)

NORTH DIVISION
Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres) (2 games - 1H/1A)
TOTAL (2 games - 1H/1A)

Insights on what fans should expect the 2012-13 matrix to look like after the jump.

As you can see, just over half of the Penguins 76 games were against teams in their division, the East Division. I don't see many tweaks being made to this matrix, if any, from last season. The only teams that would be reasonable "new" teams on the schedule would be Lake Erie and Charlotte; the rest of the teams in the Western Conference would cause much longer travels, making it more difficult to schedule.

The other thing you might see is a simple switch of how many times the Pens play teams in the Atlantic and Northeast Divisions. For example, I would like to see the Adirondack Phantoms more than twice in 2012-13. It's possible the teams the Penguins only played twice last year might switch with teams they played four times last year.

All in all, I wouldn't expect anything too drastically different than last year. But, time will tell. Hopefully the waiting game on the schedule matrices will come to an end soon!