A Look at the First Day of Regular Season in the NHL!
It’s been a long wait and finally, the first day of the NHL regular season starts tomorrow. The league has 13 games set up for its season opener, trying to bring hockey-starved fans as many games as possible, while also pairing up some of the best matchups. Here are some of the games to watch for tomorrow, when the puck drops for the first time this year.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers
This is a huge matchup as the Penguins will surely be seeking revenge. They were humiliated by the Flyers in the first round of the playoffs last year; and ousted in six games. That being said, the Penguins also now have a fully healthy Sidney Crosby; and that’s a tough opponent for any team to beat.
Ottawa Senators at Winnipeg Jets
This is being built up to be one of the biggest years Ottawa has ever seen. They made a huge turnaround in the middle of the year last season after bringing on Paul MacLean as head coach. Both Jason Spezza and Erik Karlsson had terrific years, and more of the same is expected to be seen from them. But there’s much more at stake for the Senators this year, too. It’s likely going to be long-time captain Daniel Alfredsson’s last year, and they’ll want to make sure he goes out on a great year. Meanwhile in Winnipeg, fans are overjoyed that they get to celebrate a second season as the new franchise, even if they are still looking to make the playoffs after missing them last year.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens
Two teams with one of the most storied rivalries in the NHL will meet at the Bell Centre on Saturday night, and it will be interesting to see what happens on both ends of the ice. The Leafs are going through a major change behind the scenes right now, with general manager Brian Burke being fired almost immediately after the lockout ended. In his place is former assistant general manager, Dave Nonis, who knows the team well. Still, the emotional shock is still lingering in Toronto, and the players will need to ensure they don’t bring that with them on the ice. It bodes well for them that they’re playing Montreal, who finished dead last in the Eastern Conference last year.
Categorized in: NHL