Anaheim, CA - 

There will be plenty of pre-game festivities beginning at 4 p.m. PST. There will be an outdoor lounge with beverages and music that will be open at 3:30 p.m. The red carpet arrival of the team will open the festivities.

Fans who plan on attending the game are encouraged to arrive in their seats by 6:45 p.m. to enjoy an interactive opening sequence. All fans in attendance will receive a Teemu Selanne t-shirt and contests will be conducted throughout the game.

[blackbirdpie url=https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/259034004815241216]

Picture courtesy of Reddit Hockey

After proving yesterday that the league’s latest offer to the NHLPA was in fact not a good faith offer but merely an attempt to win over fan favor, the NHL’s continuing its push to win over the easily misled by conveniently timing this round of cancellations directly after their mischaracterization of the NHLPA’s three counter offers from yesterday. Presumably, the NHL is betting on the league’s tantrum yesterday and cancelled games today being blamed on the NHLPA by the fans.

It was a predictable move, but unfortunately will likely work to sway some favor in the league’s direction for those not paying attention. And that’s why the NHL is paying the big bucks to dubious PR firms; this stuff works.

Here’s the NHL’s short and to-the-point release today:

NHL announces cancellation of 2012-13 regular-season schedule through November 1
NEW YORK – The National Hockey League announced today the cancellation of the 2012-13 regular-season schedule through November 1. A total of 135 regular-season games were scheduled for Oct. 11 through Nov. 1.

The cancellation was necessary because of the absence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL Players’ Association and the NHL.

Jer doesn’t anticipate a miracle that will save the rest of this season. Follow him on Twitter @JerMeansWell.