NHL Season Opens Tonight

I make no bones about it. Hockey is my favorite season of the year. I do enjoy football and baseball season as well but
there is nothing that beats the enjoyment of a good hockey game. Well except of course for stupid back room decisions that fail to consider the fans.
For example I bought two tickets for the recent New York Islanders vs Calgary Flames exhibition game in Saskatoon.
Now I've been around sports long enough to know what exhibition games are all about and how some guys will dress and some won't and so on and so forth. But this night was a bit much.
For the Islanders the attraction was John Taveres. Well he didn't play. Not real surprising and really thats about the only attraction the Islanders have. Although credit to Rollie the goalie. He put on a good show in the Islander net for half the game.
Had a shut out going when he was pulled.
On the Calgary side no Iginla, no Boumeester, no Phaneuf, no Conroy, no Kiprasoff and on and on it went through the Flames lineup. They only two recognition players they played were Sarich and Seabrook. $180 bucks down the drain.
But now the season starts for real and I am not expecting the Saskatoon Coyotes (ie Phoenix Coyotes) to be in the mix this year.
With the judge nixing Jim Balsallie's bid for the Coyotes, much to Gary Bettman's pleasure, the old stories are circulating again about the Coyotes playing some of their home games in Saskatoon. Fat chance. The anti Canada Bettman and his side kick Daly will make sure that doesn't happen. And anyway having games played in Saskatoon might draw away from the huge fan base that the Toronto Maple Leafs have and Bettman must protect the Maple Buds at all cost.
But anyway to the regular season starting tonight. My favorite team comes out of hibernation. The Boston Bruins hosting the Washington Capitals. Should be an interesting games. Many are predicting this will be the Capitals year for the Stanley Cup but the Pittsburgh Penquins remain the best bet for a repeat. My Bruins had a good season last year before being bounced by the TSN cheerleading team of McQuire and company and the Carolina Hurricanes. Phil Kessel is gone for the Bruins this year so how good the Bruins will be remains to be seen. I have cheered for the Bruins since the days of Orr and Esposito and I would like to think they could win the Cup this year but thats a stretch.
San Jose Sharks have to been considered a front runner if they can get Danny Heatley to help them past their early round playoff exits. Detroit RedWings have been depleted but always manage to come up with something competitive.
Calgary Flames could be interesting. Does any team in the NHL have a better defense? And even the Vancouver Canucks could have a shot at it this year.
So in the East I am going to predict that the Washington Capitals will meet the Pittsburgh Penquins with the Penquins coming out on top and in the West I will go with the San Jose Sharks into the final against the Calgary Flames.
The Stanley Cup: Calgary Flames vs Pittsburgh Penquins
Champion - The Pittsburgh Penquins.
My fearless hockey prediction for 2009 - 2010