The pre-season schedule was announced Wednesday afternoon, revealing the five games the Penguins will have to prepare for the upcoming season (Penguins.com).

2008-2009 Pre-Season Scheule is Available

They are as follows:

Saturday, September 20 vs. Tampa Bay – 7:30 p.m.

Monday, September 22 @ Tampa Bay – 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday September 24 vs. Toronto – 7:30 p.m.

Friday, September 26 @ Toronto – 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 2 @ Jokerit (Finland) – 11:30 a.m.

Isn’t it fitting that the Lightning, and their five former Penguins, will be the first to grace the ice at Mellon Arena as visitors?

I’m not sure how to, but I’d like to try and research if there has been a game, exhibition or not, where more former teammates have faced each other. This game will have to be up there on the list (If anyone knows how to go about that please let me know). Don’t forget that Ruslan Fedotenko was a Bolt.

The game in Jokerit, Finland should be a sight to see. The 11:30 a.m. start time is the start time in Pittsburgh, and the game will feature Janne Pesonen back in his home country.

Following the pre-season the Penguins open the season in Stockholm, Sweden to play two games against the Ottawa Senators October 4th and 5th.

The Penguins open the season at home Saturday, October 11th against the New Jersey Devils at 7:30 p.m.

Get your grills ready. If you are a Penguin fan and will be in attendance you have a responsibility to tailgate all day for the opener. Since football season will be in full-swing by then, there are no excuses.

The regular season schedule will be announced Thursday.