Early Observations On The NHL and Other Things

By Jo Ann Lawery 

Hockey season is back, yes, really, it's not a dream, and so far the league seems to have gotten it right. 

For now, anyway, we'll see once the season really gets going. 

Fans seem to be going wild over the shootout.

Even hockey purists like me, who don't get the shootout concept, have to admit; it's a big hit with the fans.

The players by and large seem to be adjusting to the new rules, although if you ask me, looking at some of the goaltender's equipment, I really don't see that much of a difference. 

The players have to make an adjustment and so do the referees as well.

To those so called,” experts" who were predicting all sorts of bad things happening when the league came back, you're wrong so far, and I guess you really don't know hockey fans that well. 

We love our sport and our players, that's why some of us were going off the deep end last year without our daily hockey fix.

Some things haven't changed, though. 

Concession prices are still high, and hockey is still an afterthought in most newspapers and TV sports. 

Not to mention all those radio talk shows with the hosts who wouldn't know a Columbus Blue Jacket from a Chicago Black Hawk.

Hockey fans are back to doing what they love, asking questions like, "Is Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins the real deal or is he a fraud," "How will Wayne Gretzsky do coaching the Coyotes”, and the ever popular age old hockey question, "Why are the Philadelphia Flyers always picked to win the Stanley Cup but they never do?"

The league is back, really this time, it's not a dream and once again, hockey fans are doing something they haven't done in a month-talk about hockey.

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