Drop the Puck!

And...we're underway!

Even though most teams are still finishing out their preseason games, the NHL regular season officially began today with a pair of games in Europe. The New York Rangers just defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Prague, and they're just about to drop the puck in Stockholm for a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators. (The Sharks open next Thursday against the Ducks).

Wow. Pittsburgh already leads 1-0 on a very soft goal against Martin Gerber forty seconds in. Goalie woes continue in Canada's capital, apparently.

As the world gets smaller, all the North American pro leagues are looking to expand the market for their products. With so many Europeans playing in the NHL, countries like Sweden and the Czech Republic would seem like "low-hanging fruit" for the league's efforts in this regard. England--where the league opened last year with back-to-back games in London between the Ducks and the Kings--would really be virgin territory. And our very own San Jose Sharks are looking even further afield, sponsoring China's only pro hockey team, the China Sharks. The goal in China would be to emulate the NBA's success in growing a massive new market in the blink of an eye. Maybe we'll see a couple of teams opening the NHL season in Shanghai someday soon...

Well, regardless of where the games are played, it's just a great feeling to know the season has started.

Oh, and before it gets too late, I guess I'd better make a Stanley Cup prediction. So here it is: Red Wings over the Habs in the final. Of course I want the Sharks to win it all (duh), but Detroit has to be the favorite...they were the best team in the league last year and only got better in the offseason.

Happy Hockey Season!