2013 Flyers schedule: Welcome to the ... Metropolitan Division?

After much deliberation over the past few days amongst the folks at the NHL, the Flyers and the rest of the league finally released the schedule for the 2013-14 NHL season on Friday afternoon. You can see the full thing here.

Some quick notes:

* The NHL finally released its names for its new four conferences today. Among the two "Eastern Conference" groupings, the Flyers' group (consisting of the entire old Atlantic Division, along with the Capitals, Hurricanes, and Blue Jackets) has been named the Metropolitan Division. Yes, seriously. Meanwhile, the other Eastern Conference group is now known as ... the Atlantic Division. You can't make this stuff up.

* As was expected by everyone, the league will take a 17-day break between February 9 and 25 for the 2014 Winter Olympics. NHL players have been cleared to attend and play for their respective countries, and we'll have more thoughts on that and which Flyers that will affect later down the line. But in the meantime, we know the Flyers won't play a game between February 8 and 27.

* Amongst their division rivals, the Flyers will play the Penguins and Capitals five times, and the Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Blue Jackets, and Hurricanes four times.

* In the new Atlantic Division (I mean SERIOUSLY, NHL), each team there will play the Flyers three times. The Flyers get two home games and one road game against each of the Bruins, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, and Sabres, and the opposite (one home, two road) against the Red Wings, Senators, Panthers, and Lightning.

* They'll face every team in the two Western divisions twice, once at home and once on the road.

* They have 14 sets of back-to-back games.

There's more to dissect here, and we'll look at all of that again soon. But for now, welcome to the new Metropolitan Division.