It's been 21 weeks since the Pittsburgh Penguins last took to the ice, and quite the changes since then in the front office, behind the bench and in player personnel.
We can move past all the changes and what-ifs and finally get a real game.
Quack, quack, Mr. Ducksworth sir! Anaheim comes to town looking to build on last season- where they also blew a 3-1 series lead in the second round of the playoffs. Cherished veterans Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu are gone, but the Ducks added Ryan Kesler to their team and look to have another solid year out West.
The players to watch are the top line: Corey Perry (former MVP) and Ryan Getzlaf (2nd in the league in points last year). If they produce, Anaheim probably wins tonight, so hopefully the new look defense of the Penguins will be up to the task.
For the Pens, it's a chance to start the long journey of the regular season. Evgeni Malkin and Olli Maatta are good to go after missing much preseason activities. It's a new chapter of a great story, so let's drop the puck and get to it.
Go Pens.