NHL hockey is back in North America tonight with four teams kicking off their 2022/23 seasons!
Lightning vs Rangers
The first game of the night will be a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals between the Lightning and Rangers at Madison Square Garden. After dropping the first two games of the series, the Lightning stormed back and won the next four contests, taking the series in 6. For the Rangers, tonight is an immediate opportunity to put the loss behind them and begin the new season with a statement win. The Lightning, on the other hand, will aim to once again spoil the party and remind everyone just how good they still are. Both teams made minimal moves in the offseason as well, meaning that the feelings from last year’s playoff series will still be there for almost every player on the ice tonight. All in all, tonight’s game should be a fantastic way to welcome the NHL back.
Golden Knights vs Kings
In the later game, we’ll see the Los Angeles Kings host the Vegas Golden Knights. This Pacific Division rivalry may not have the firepower of the night’s first matchup, but should be a great game, nonetheless. Vegas comes into the season hoping to bounce back from a tough campaign last year that was riddled with injuries. Unfortunately, they’ll have to figure out how to overcome a big one quickly, as Robin Lehner is out for the season. For the Kings, this year is all about building on last year’s surprising success. With young players getting more experience and the addition of star forward Kevin Fiala, L.A will be looking to prove that they are once again a threat in the west.
Although the young guys are important, it’ll still be up to the veterans to lead the way for this team. If Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick can continue to be factors every night, watch out for the Kings this year.
We’ll take the Rangers and Kings to start their years off with a win. Here’s to hoping for another great season in the NHL!
