The opening to the 2013-14 NHL season was highlighted by the Chicago Blackhawks concluding their celebration of a second championship in four seasons. While the slate of games was exciting, an unfortunate turn of events in Montreal has us all hoping the best for Canadiens forward George Parros.
NHL schedule: Daniel Alfredsson debuts with Red Wings
A look at the NHL games scheduled for Wednesday night, which includes the debut of some notable offseason acquisitions.
Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
The season continues on Wednesday night with three more contests. Here’s a look at what’s on the docket:
Maple Leafs vs. Flyers, 7:30 p.m. ET (TSN)
The Maple Leafs goaltending competition is one of the biggest story lines to follow this season. Considering James Reimer started against Montreal on Tuesday night, it seems likely that Jonathan Bernier will get the call when the Leafs head to Philadelphia.
The Flyers had a disappointing season last year and made a splash this summer in signing Vincent Lecavalier and Mark Streit. In addition, the club signed goaltender Ray Emery, who is expected to partake in a competition with reclamation project Steve Mason. Coach Peter Laviolette has yet to announce which player will be starting.
Team blogs: Broad Street Hockey, Pension Plan Puppets
The Red Wings were viewed as a team in transition last year but surprised many by coming within a single win of the Western Conference Final. After reloading this summer with the acquisitions of Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss, Detroit will be a formidable foe as they move into the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division.
Buffalo will act as the grouping's ambassador, as they welcome the Wings to the Atlantic. The Sabres are in an interesting position, as they are viewed as a team in the beginnings of a rebuild. With Ryan Miller and newly named co-captain Thomas Vanek one-year away from unrestricted free agency, many questions exist in Buffalo with seemingly low expectations.
Team blogs: Die By The Blade, Winging it in Motown
The Ducks finally decided to pull the trigger and sent star forward Bobby Ryan to the Ottawa Senators over the summer. Anaheim received a packaged deal in return that was highlighted by Jakob Silfverberg, who is expected to play in the team's opener despite a lower-body issue. In addition, the Ducks re-acquired forward Dustin Penner, who is projected to play on the top line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. The Ducks key offseason signing came when Teemu Selanne announced that he would be returning for a final season.
For Colorado, the top offseason move -- in terms of the roster -- came when the club selected Nathan MacKinnon with the top selection in the 2013 NHL Draft. The rookie is expected to play the entirety of the year with the Avalanche and will center Steve Downie and Jamie McGinn.
Team blogs: Anaheim Calling, Mile High Hockey
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