The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Cup runneth over for the second consecutive season. The hoopla over the addition of the Vegas Golden Knights and the Expansion Draft this week in Las Vegas is in the NHL history books. This weekend the NHL Entry Draft takes place in Chicago; July 1 starts the free-agent frenzy.

Feeling somewhat left out with a dearth of hoopla in the Hub of Hockey? Fret no further these days of summer.

In addition to draft picks, possible trades and free-agent signings, set your sights on a few definites for next season. That begins with a full season of Bruce Cassidy, and ditto for a healthy Patrice Bergeron, who tied Bob Gainey with his fourth Selke Award after playing 79 games with a sports hernia. Add Charlie McAvoy as one early-season favorite for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year next June. Then outfit both, along with 21 other teammates, in their new digs unveiled this week for 2017-18.

Oh yeah, that schedule was released by the league on Thursday afternoon. The B’s open at home on October 5 against the Stanley Cup finalist Nashville Predators and end on April 7 vs. Ottawa that ended the Bruins’ season in six playoff games in April. While flipping a few burgers these dog days, flip a few calendar pages and circle the games that seem the most interesting.

Less than 24 hours removed from the NHL’s unveiling of the master schedule, here are five Bruins games to watch in 2017-18.

Thursday, October 5 vs. Nashville at TD Garden

The Bruins kick off 2017-18 in grand style as they welcome P.K. Subban and the defending Western Conference champion Nashville Predators. (Photo by Angela Spagna, Bruins Daily)

The Predators were the cinderella team of the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. As the eighth seed in the Western Conference, the Preds came within two games of parading Lord Stanley in the Music City for the first time in franchise history. With arguably the best four-man D-corps in the NHL, they will be out to prove their mettle from Game 1 throughout next season.

Sunday, October 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas

The Bruins make their first trip to Sin City on October 15. (Photo by Peter Manderino, Bruins Daily)

The Black and Gold visit the Golden Knights for their first encounter in NHL history in the Bruins’ fifth game of the season. Bruin diehards might have their travel plans made by the 4th of July for this ultimate no-lose road trip – well, maybe! The rest of the Hub of Hockey can circle Thursday, November 2 when the Vegas Golden Knights head east to TD Garden.

Friday, November 24 vs. Pittsburgh

The Bruins have taken four of the last six meetings with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. (Photo by Angela Spagna, Bruins Daily)

“Black Friday,” the day after Turkey Day when the reigning champs come to Boston. Two Cups under their belts and former Boston coach Mike Sullivan behind the bench, the Penguins will seek to become the first team to win three consecutive Stanley Cups since the Islanders’ run of four straight from 1980-83.

Canadiens, Canadiens, Canadiens – January 13-20

Now with the rival Canadiens, Claude Julien will make his long-awaited return to Boston on January 17. (Photo by Joe Makarski, Bruins Daily)

Gotta love the NHL scheduling gods. How much hype for the first meeting for Claude Julien against his former team? How about some three months? And then three of the season’s four games in just seven days.

The B’s and Habs meet Saturday, January 13 in Montreal; then Wednesday, the 17th at TD Garden; then Saturday, the 20th back in Montreal. Now, that’s the ultimate road trip, eh? Their final meeting is at TD Garden on March 3.

Chicago, Chicago – in less than 24 hours – March 10-11

The Bruins and Blackhawks have a home and home scheduled for early-March. (Photo by Joe Makarski, Bruins Daily)

Never a shortage of interest in the Hawks-B’s schedule. They only meet twice in 2017-18, but both are less than 24 hours apart. The three-time Cup winners since 2010 come to Boston for a Saturday matinee on March 10. The two teams head right back to the Windy City for a Sunday affair at 12:30 ET.

Runners-up?

The Bruins close out the 2017-18 season against the team that eliminated them in the playoffs in April, the Ottawa Senators. (Photo by Joe Makarski, Bruins Daily)

The Bruins end the season in April with four games; three on the road before that finale at home against Ottawa. They play at Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Florida. All three made the playoffs in 2015-16 while missing postseason play last year. Not likely that happens again next season.

Then, there is Ottawa. All they did was to come within a goal of playing Nashville for all the marbles after taking the Penguins to OT in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Only a hundred days and change until Game 1 of 82. Drop the puck!!