The Los Angeles Kings celebrated their Stanley Cup victory by raising their banner to the rafters before their game Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks. While the ceremony was quite neat, when it came to finally playing, the Kings were anything but their Stanley Cup form from last year. The Blackhawks ended the ceremony with a 5 – 2 win, as well as a harsh realization that every team is out to beat them this year.
A friend of mine chirped a bit about my fantasy team drafting defending Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson. He argued Karlsson would not be as good, yet in Saturday’s matchup of the Ottawa Senators visiting the Winnipeg Jets, he tallied 3 points with 1 goal and 2 assists. In an effort of throwing it in his face, I had planned to have a picture of Karlsson. Instead, I came across this photo of Head Coach Paul MacLean pointing something out to the officials in the second period. It is nothing of significance, but this photo with everyone’s facial expressions and varying points of interests reminds me of a Where’s Waldo book. Can you find the stink eye?
Cody Hodgson of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates his goal from an assist by Thomas Vanek as the Sabres beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5 – 2 Sunday. Vanek scored the final empty net goal making him the first star of the night with 2 goals and 3 assists. A 5 point night is a nice welcome back to the NHL game.
It did not take newly acquired Zach Parise long of the Minnesota Wild to get his first goal. In their second game at home against the Dallas Stars, the new face of the franchise had the lone goal to beat the Stars 1 – 0. That win opens the season 2 – 0 for the Wild.
