Hockey is back!Tonight was the home opener preseason game, and it was great to savor the taste of hockey again. I didn't realize it until later but the reason there were so many newbies playing was not their fight for a roster spot, but that there was a split squad game also happening in shitty Glendale (Arizona). There's another game this Saturday, where I expect to see more of the regular squad, but it was great to see some of the up and coming players get some ice time.
Thomas Hickey and Colten Teubert are likely the next young wave behind Jack MF Johnson (two goals!) and Drew Doughty, and they held up fairly well in exhibition play. Also in a jersey, though only temporarily, was 1st round draft pick Brayden Schenn getting to skate in the bigs before conditioning and education in the minors. The Anze Kopitar-Justin Williams pairing that started at the end of last season with the acquisition of Williams was bettered by lining up veteran trade asset Ryan Smyth. They combined for a goal and two assists and a +4 for the evening, which is a good start.
Our away team was beaten, but my game was a victory, 4-3 over Phoenix, which even in the meaningless pre-season, is still a win that can be enjoyed.
Lunatics and puck nerds can check out the Ross McKeon and Greg Wyshynski blogs for team season previews.
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