NEW YORK — The Pittsburgh Penguins will open a new arena against an old foe.

Pittsburgh, the 2009 Stanley Cup winner, will play its first game in the CONSOL Energy Center on NHL opening night Oct. 7 against defending Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia. The Penguins had played at Mellon Arena since joining the NHL in 1967.

On New Year's Day, the Penguins host the Winter Classic against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field — home of the NFL's Steelers.

For the fourth consecutive season, the NHL also will begin with games in Europe — this time with six teams. The Carolina Hurricanes will play two games against the Minnesota Wild in Helsinki, Finland; the Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks will have a two-game set at Stockholm, Sweden; and the Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes will play a pair in Prague, Czech Republic.

The Penguins' 2010-11 schedule is on Page 17.