Sens lose six games as NHL starts cancellations

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman listens as he meets with reporters after a meeting with team owners in New York on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. (AP /Mary Altaffer)

The National Hockey League has thrown out the first two weeks of its schedule during its labour dispute with the players.

A notice posted on the league’s website Thursday said a total of 82 games have been cancelled up to and including Oct. 24.

This means six Ottawa Senators games won’t be going ahead as scheduled – two home dates against Dallas and Washington and four road games at Toronto, Montreal, Pittsburgh and Toronto.

That original schedule will all but certainly need to be re-written for travel and player health reasons, as well as rules concerning conference and divisional play.

Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson said he's willing to play a shortened season but may not come back if the entire campaign is cancelled.

The league and player’s association don’t have any meetings scheduled to try and divide up the league’s revenue.

Many in hockey circles, including Wayne Gretzky, believe a big pressure point in negotiations will be the marquee, outdoor Winter Classic game on Jan. 1, 2012 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.

In 2004-05's lockout, the season was cancelled on Feb. 16, 2005, with an agreement reached in July.