The Minnesota Wild will open the 2008-09 season at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m. against the Boston Bruins. The complete National Hockey League (NHL) schedule is slated to be released Thursday.

This will mark the Wild’s fourth straight season opener at home. Minnesota is 6-0-1 all-time in home openers, including a 5-1 victory over the Bruins on Oct. 11, 2002. The Wild is 6-1-0 all-time versus the Bruins, including a 2-1-0 home mark. The teams last met on March 8, 2007, in Boston, with Minnesota prevailing 2-1 behind a goal and an assist from Pierre-Marc Bouchard.

The Wild also announced three “at-large” home games against Eastern Conference opponents. Minnesota will play each Eastern Conference team once - but three of those teams will play a home-and-home with the Wild. The Bruins, New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning will all play home-and-home sets with the Wild in 2008-09.

The Wild will announce its preseason schedule at a later date. Preseason single-game tickets will go on sale Saturday, Aug. 23. Regular season single-game tickets will go on sale on Saturday, Sept. 20. For more information please contact the Minnesota Wild at (651) 222-WILD (9453).