The Thrashers 2008-09 scheduled was released Thursday.

The Thrashers open against last season's Southeast Division winner Washington at home on Oct. 10.

With the schedule format change, the Thrashers will only play division opponents only six times, down from eight. The change allows for more Western Conference teams on the schedule, including Stanley Cup champion Detroit, which comes to Philips Arena on March 20.

Alexander Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk, All-Stars and fellow Russians, finished first and second in the NHL in goals scored last season. The Thrashers' Kovalchuk had 52 goals last season, second only to the Capitals' Ovechkin, who led the league with 65 goals. He also led the league with 112 points and led the Capitals to the playoffs after winning the division title.

The Thrashers open training camp in September. Their first preseason game is Sept. 25.

2008-09 THRASHERS SCHEDULE
Fri., Oct. 10 -- Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 11 -- at Florida, 7 p.m.
Tue., Oct. 14 -- Minnesota, 7 p.m.
Thu., Oct. 16 -- New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 18 -- Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Tue., Oct. 21 -- at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 24 -- at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 25 -- at Boston, 7 p.m.
Tue., Oct. 28 -- Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Thu., Oct. 30 -- at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 1 -- at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 2 -- Florida, 5 p.m.
Thu., Nov. 6 -- N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 7 -- at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 9 -- at Carolina, 3 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 14 -- Carolina, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 16 -- at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Thu., Nov. 20 -- Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 22 -- Columbus, 7 p.m.
Tue., Nov. 25 -- at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 26 -- at Washington, 7 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 28 -- Nashville, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 30 -- St. Louis, 3 p.m.
Tue., Dec. 2 -- at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 3 -- at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 6 -- at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 10 -- N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 12 -- Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 13 -- at Boston, 7 p.m.
Tue., Dec. 16 -- at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
Thu., Dec. 18 -- Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 20 -- Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 22 -- Toronto, 7 p.m.
Tue., Dec. 23 -- at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 26 -- Carolina, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 28 -- Boston, 5 p.m.
Tue., Dec. 30 -- at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 31 -- at Carolina, 8 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 2 -- Vancouver, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 4 -- Tampa Bay, 5 p.m.
Tue., Jan. 6 -- at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Thu., Jan. 8 -- at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 10 -- at Florida, 7 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 14 -- Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 16 -- Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 17 -- at Nashville, 8 p.m.
Tue., Jan. 20 -- Montreal, 7 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 21 -- at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Tue., Jan. 27 -- at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Thu., Jan. 29 -- N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 31 -- at Carolina, 8 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 3 -- at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 6 -- New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 8 -- Philadelphia, 3 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 10 -- at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 11 -- Chicago, 7 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 15 -- at Anaheim, 8 p.m.
Mon., Feb. 16 -- at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
Thu., Feb. 19 -- at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 21 -- at San Jose, 4 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 24 -- Colorado, 7 p.m.
Thu., Feb. 26 -- at Washington, 7 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 28 -- Carolina, 7 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 3 -- Florida, 7 p.m.
Fri., Mar. 6 -- Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 8 -- Calgary, 3 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 10 -- at Colorado, 9 p.m.
Thu., Mar. 12 -- at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 14 -- at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Mon., Mar. 16 -- Washington, 7 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 17 -- at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Fri., Mar. 20 -- Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 21 -- at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 24 -- at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Thu., Mar. 26 -- N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 28 -- Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Wed., Apr. 1 -- Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Fri., Apr. 3 -- at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Apr. 5 -- at Washington, 3 p.m.
Tue., Apr. 7 -- Washington, 7 p.m.
Thu., Apr. 9 -- Florida, 7 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 11 -- Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.