Our long wait is over. Fortunately, it isn't as long as last season's wait, since the owners decided to spare us a lockout. The 2013-2014 NHL season begins on Tuesday, October 1. There are three games on that opening night. Unsurprisingly, two of them involve two Canadian teams playing one another.
The season kicks off, as it rightly should, with Toronto playing Montreal. What better way to start a hockey season than with the Maple Leafs playing the Canadiens? Of course, both of those teams are likely to see their performance dip this year. One of them can get off to an early start on that.
The middle game of the day, the one for us in America, is on NBC Sports at 8:00 PM Eastern. The teams facing one another are the Chicago Blackhawks who, as defending champs, were given the chance to open the season at home. Expect a lot of pomp and circumstance and all that good stuff. They shall play the Washington Capitals, who feature Alex Ovechkin.
The day concludes with the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Winnipeg Jets in their first game in the Western Conference. Take that, time zones! Sure, the Jets aren't as excited as other teams playing on Tuesday, but the Oilers have a bunch of exciting players to watch.
Three games begin the season. Many more will follow. Many months from now, one team will be raising the Stanley Cup. It should be excited. Here's to a great NHL season and, if I may indulge myself for one moment, go Wings!
