The National Lacrosse League’s 2017-18 regular season will start three weeks earlier than the 2016-17 season, opening with NLL Faceoff Weekend Dec. 8-9 and stretching through the end of April.  Not including playoffs, the 32nd season of professional indoor lacrosse will span five months and include 81 games, with each of the nine teams playing an 18-game schedule.

Opening night will feature three games Dec. 8. New England will host defending NLL champion Georgia, Buffalo hosts East Division rival Toronto, and Vancouver takes on Colorado in a West Division playoff rematch. The following night, Calgary travels east to take on Rochester.

The NLL recently announced plans to add an expansion franchise in San Diego for 2018-19 and could have an 11th team in the fold by the time next season rolls around.

“We take great pride in developing the best possible schedule for both our fans and teams, and are thrilled to finally release the official 2017–2018 NLL schedule,” NLL commissioner Nick Sakiewicz said in a press release Friday. “Coming off of the San Diego announcement, I could not be any more excited to get this season underway. With three opening night matchups of Georgia vs. New England, Toronto vs. Buffalo, and Colorado vs. Vancouver on Dec. 8, our fans will experience no shortage in action. Having a full year of NLL TV under our belts, we are especially excited to build on that experience with even more content and coverage this season.”

2017-18 NLL Schedule (all times Eastern)

Week 1

Dec. 8 - Georgia at New England - 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 8 - Toronto at Buffalo - 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 8 - Colorado at Vancouver - 10:30 p.m.
Dec. 9 - Calgary at Rochester - 7:30 p.m.

Week 2

Dec. 15 - Vancouver at Calgary - 9 p.m.
Dec. 16 - Saskatchewan at Toronto - 7 p.m.

Week 3

Dec. 23 - Buffalo at Rochester - 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 23 - New England at Saskatchewan - 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 23 - Georgia at Colorado - 9 p.m.

Week 4

Dec. 29 - Vancouver at New England - 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 29 - Colorado at Calgary - 9 p.m.
Dec. 30 - Buffalo at Toronto - 7 p.m.
Dec. 30 - Rochester at Georgia - 7:05 p.m.

Week 5

Jan 6 - Saskatchewan at Georgia - 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 6 - Calgary at Buffalo - 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 6 - Toronto at Vancouver - 10 p.m.

Week 6

Jan. 12 - Rochester at Toronto - 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 - New England at Rochester - 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 - Vancouver at Buffalo - 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 - Saskatchewan at Colorado - 9 p.m.
Jan. 13 - Georgia at Calgary - 9 p.m.

Week 7

Jan. 19 - Buffalo at Saskatchewan - 8:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 - Colorado at Georgia - TBD
Jan. 21 - Rochester at New England - 2 p.m.

Week 8

Jan. 26 - Vancouver at Colorado - 9:30 p.m.
Jan. 27 - New England at Toronto - 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 - Saskatchewan at Calgary - 9 p.m.
Jan. 27 - Georgia at Vancouver - 10 p.m.

Week 9

Feb. 2 - Saskatchewan at Colorado - 9:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 - Calgary at Toronto - 7 p.m.
Feb. 3 - Buffalo at Rochester - 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 - Vancouver at Saskatchewan - 8:30 p.m.

Week 10

Feb. 9 - Buffalo at New England - 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 - Georgia at Buffalo - 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 - Toronto at Rochester - 8 p.m.
Feb. 10 - Colorado at Calgary - 9 p.m.
Feb. 10 - Saskatchewan at Vancouver - 10 p.m.
Feb. 11 - Rochester at Georgia - 6:05 p.m.

Week 11

Feb. 16 - Vancouver at Calgary - 9 p.m.
Feb. 17 - Toronto at Georgia - 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 17 - Saskatchewan at Rochester - 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 18 - Colorado at New England - 2 p.m.

Week 12

Feb. 24 - Rochester at Buffalo - 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 24 - Calgary at Saskatchewan - 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 24 - New England at Vancouver - 10 p.m.

Week 13

March 3 - Georgia at Toronto - 7 p.m.
March 3 - Vancouver at Saskatchewan - 8:30 p.m.
March 3 - Buffalo at Colorado - 9 p.m.

Week 14

March 10 - Georgia at Rochester - 7:30 p.m.
March 10 - Calgary at Colorado - 9 p.m.
March 11 - New England at Toronto - 3 p.m.

Week 15

March 16 - Saskatchewan at Buffalo - 7:30 p.m.
March 16 - Toronto at New England - 7:30 p.m.
March 17 - Rochester at Calgary - 9 p.m.
March 17 - Colorado at Vancouver - 10 p.m.
March 18 - Buffalo at Georgia - 4:05 p.m.

Week 16

March 23 - Buffalo at New England - 7:30 p.m.
March 24 - New England at Georgia - 7:05 p.m.
March 24 - Toronto at Calgary - 9 p.m.
March 24 - Vancouver at Colorado - 9 p.m.
March 24 - Rochester at Saskatchewan - 9:30 p.m.

Week 17

March 30 - Colorado at Toronto - 7:30 p.m.
March 31- Colorado at Rochester - 7:30 p.m.
March 31 - New England at Buffalo - 7:30 p.m.
March 31 - Calgary at Vancouver - 10 p.m.

Week 18

April 7 - Colorado at Saskatchewan - 9:30 p.m.
April 8 - Calgary at New England - 2 p.m.
April 8 - Toronto at Georgia - 4:05 p.m.

Week 19

April 13 - Rochester at Toronto - 7:30 p.m.
April 13 - Saskatchewan at Vancouver - 10:30 p.m.
April 14 - New England at Colorado - 9 p.m.
April 14 - Buffalo at Calgary - 9 p.m.
April 14 - Georgia at Saskatchewan - 9:30 p.m.

Week 20

April 21 - New England at Rochester - 7:30 p.m.
April 21 - Toronto at Buffalo - 7:30 p.m.
April 21 - Calgary at Vancouver - 10 p.m.

Week 21

April 28 - Vancouver at Georgia - 7:05 p.m.
April 28 - Rochester at Buffalo - 7:30 p.m.
April 28 - Toronto at Colorado - 9 p.m.
April 28 - Calgary at Saskatchewan - 9:30 p.m.
April 29 - Georgia at New England - 5 p.m.