The new season starts today.Last season I predicted a Calgary/Philly final so I was 50% correct and 50% completely wrong.This season I'm predicting a Washington/Vancouver final.Chicago have lost too many players to win again.

Not kept in with the news over the off season and not entirely exactly clued up with it all, however I do follow Tampa Bay Lightning, so have they kept hold of St Louis and Le Cavalier ? And did they pick up anyone decent in the draft after last seasons demise ?

Set off in a little over 2 hours for the opener, Avs v Hawks.
Tampa still do have those 2 players.
Kings v either Caps or Penguins, kings win.

at two people predictng big things from the caps. They have big goal tending issues for me, I think they will make the play offs, but don't expect them to be real contenders for Lord Stanley's cup.

I am hoping that the Leafs have a realistic chance of getting into the post season, but in reality I am expecting to be let down once again. Although I am happy we started with a win last night against the habs.

I am going to go with a Canucks v Sabres final with the canucks winning it.

New season already upon us and the Hawks coming back for a point against the Av's.

Even though the Hawks have had to lose a few for Cap reasons I still think there is enough there to challenge again this year, whether they make it to another final depends just how they cope with the changes.

As for the final I think any of Hawks, Sharks and possibly the Wings (if they stay pretty injury free) in the West and in the East I think Philly will again be up there alone with Boston who will want to avenge the ousting by Philly when 3-0 up in the series as for the Caps I just dont think they are strong enough in the net plus they seem to struggle come the playoffs.

Great game last night, with the Avs getting the win they so deserved. First game of course but things look promising in Denver. They are lightening fast in both attack and defence, when they make a 'Hawks team that has a deserved reputation for being quick look very average speed wise, its a fast team. They outshot the 'Hawks: last season the Avs were outshot in most games which in itself is an improvement but when you consider the power play time advantage the 'Hawks had (11.18 mins v 2.06 mins) it is a big improvement. Not sure if I was watching the game with my Avs glasses on but the officials seemed to be very leniant on the 'Hawks, allowing them to get away with things that when applied to the Avs resulted in a PP. Probably the advantage of being the cup holders playing the upstarts.
Before the game started there was a celebration of the first Avs cup win with nearly all of the players and coaching staff there. All came onto the ice individually, when Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy came on there were, as you would expect, huge cheers but when Peter Forseburg came on the place erupted. Forseburgs talents are still held with great affection in Colorado.

The Blackhawks should have opened the new season at home just like in the NFL.

Minnesota @ Carolina at 5pm and then at 8pm it's Columbus @ San Jose live on ESPN America.

Having looked at yesterdays highlights I know it's only one game but I think Edmonton could be this years suprise team.If Khabby and Hemsky can stay healthy added to the great young players they've got they could go from the worst team last season to a playoff team this year.

As for my predictions for the cup this year I think last year showed you dont need an elite N/M to get to the finals and I think it's time for Ovechkin to lead his team to the East championship,As for the west Chicago should make the playoffs but after losing Buff,Versteeg etc I worry about the depth in scoring.Vancouver have upgraded their defense with Ballard and Hamhuis joining and with Luongo not captain anymore he can put all his energy into playing instead of leading the team.

They're already planning the parade route down Yonge Street.

To be fair to both Leighton and Niemi they showed that they are pretty good between the pipes where as Theodore is average and both Varlamov and particularly Neuvirth are unproven at this level, admittedly Niemi was too but just not sure about them.

The Hawks will miss Buff and Steegs no question but until we can dump Huet that was always going to happen, but think Bickell and Skille will be good replacements both should do well for the Hawks with some saying Skille will be better than Steegs was, time will tell. Overall I think with the Hawks having to dump salary the club did well and traded smart and mimimised the damage to the team.

Would like to see the Leafs do well this year too and make the play-offs.

A couple of things I noticed from last night was the changes in style both teams had made from last season.
The 'Hawks after last years success seem to have become more of a puck possesion team. I guess that was an area they felt they could improve on after playing 2 possesion teams, Wings and Sharks, in the play offs. The Avs in the play off games against The Sharks were expected to give problems with quick breaks, this did not happen but it did last night, even on the PP the Avs were close to scoring 3 short handers.
To be successful with puck possesion a team has to bring its defence men over the blue line and if there is a breakdown its a long way back to defending the goal.

I hope we make a decent stab at it this year. We've been out of the playoffs for far too long. We've got a decent enough first line but we need the others to step up.

3 games in and the 1st win for the Blackhawks.4-3 against the Sabres although it was looking unlikely after Buffalo were winning 2-0 after a couple of minutes.

I wonder if the Devils are regreting having signed Kovalchuck to a big contract.The signing put them up against the salary cap and on Monday due to suspension and injuries they only dresses 15 skaters,they couldn't call anybody up because they had no room under the cap.If this goes on all season the fit players will be exhausted by by the time the playoffs come round.

Lending my usual half d support to the Sabres.

Lets go Buffalo! Not a great start to the season, but hopefully the Habs will be seen off tonight!

Bruins beat the Devils 4-1

Another come back win for the Hawks 2-0 down midway through the 3rd period to take the 3-2 in OT with another pair of goals form Hossa and another game winner from Sharp.

Looks like the Hawks are still a little rink rusty and slowly getting used to the changes, will be challenging once again I think later in the season and will not relinquish the cup easily.

Good to see the Hawks back at the top of the division where they belong

Toews and Kane have had slow starts to the season so it's Hossa and Sharp that have stepped up and have been leading the team with 7 goals for Hossa and 6 for Sharp already.

Not only leading the Hawks but the league so far too, Hossa admitted in an after match press conference that its the first time in a long while he has felt genuinely fit with no restriction in his knee or shoulder and that he thinks that is the reason he has started well. Hopefully Toews and Kane will start to pick up the points soon. Looks like Bickell will be a good replacement for Buff too.

Think the Hawks did well considering the amount of salary they had to dump as the team looks pretty good, will be interesting to see if Quenneville & Bowman were right not to offer Niemi a deal.

Bruins beat the Capitals 3-1

Judging by the start Niemi has had so far for the Sharks (3.71 GA & .879 sv% from 3 starts) maybe the Hawks were right to walk away from the deal, its early days yet I know time will tell. It could be the fact the the Sharks have struggled to get going after season openers in Sweden although the Canes who beat them 5-2 last night in San Jose had openers in Finland.

Boston are looking promising again for another good season, Lucic looks up for it again too taking Erskine on toe to toe.

Looks like Rick Rypien will be facing a spell on the side lines after pushing a Minnesota fan who was stood clapping as he left the ice down the tunnel after been given a double minor plus 10 misconduct penalty in the Canucks game against the Wild.

Another win for the Hawks beating the Canucks 2-1 in shootout. Turco again coming up big saving 36 of 37 shots and 8 big saves in OT. Kane, Toews & Sharp scoring in the shootout, Stalberg scoring in regulation.

Canucks Rypien has unsuprisingly been suspended by the NHL pending investigation into the altercation with a Wild fan.

Bruins beat the Capitals 4-1

I think it's time for Phoenix to be moved to somewhere else,last night after a year when they got to the playoffs and they have a good young team they only managed to get a paid attendance of 6,700 (actual crowd was more like 5000).They said they needed a winning team for people to turn up but now they have that they still can't get people in Arizona to go and watch Hockey.There's plenty of places that would welcome an NHL team.Kansas city,Seattle,Quebec,Winnipeg to name just a few.

Bad weekend for the Blackhawks losing to the Blues on friday and at home to the Blue Jackets last night.

Over in New Jersey 1st year coach John MacLean made the baffling decision to make star signing Kovalchuck a healthy scratch.It didn't work as they lost and still haven't won at home.Devils GM Lamarillo isn't known for being patient and after getting into cap trouble to sign Kovalchuck I can't see him being pleased to see a fit player in the press box rather than on the ice earning his 6 million salary.I think MacLeans stay as Devils coach could be short unless things change quickly

Not the best way to use your most expensive asset, still can't understand why the Devils made the deal.

Hawks halt the slide with a 3-1 win against LA. Another great display from Turco the up side but the downside is an injury to Hossa, plus Quenneville not happy with the defensive work by the forwards. Last season Hawks outshot just about every opponent but this season are getting outshot themselves in fact last 6 on the trot, maybe why Quenneville pin pointing defensive effort from the forwards.