The puck is set to drop!
Opening night's schedule starts with a bang in the Central Division, as the Detroit Red Wings travel to St. Louis to take on the defending division champion Blues. St. Louis was terrific last year, carrying its league-best defense and goaltending to its first Central Division crown since 2000. Detroit carried the divisional torch most of the way until injuries hit in early March.
While the Blues return much of the same team (plus top prospect Vladimir Tarasenko), the Red Wings come back a little younger than usual after the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom and the departures of Jiri Hudler and Brad Stuart. Todd Bertuzzi and Darren Helm will miss the game, each suffering from minor injuries; however, Patrick Eaves will be welcomed back to the Detroit lineup after suffering a major concussion from getting hit in the head by a slapshot over a year ago.
The big question for St. Louis this year is whether or not last year was a fluke. We all know the Blues are good, but are they that good yet? The offense was average, but it was Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott who made up the unstoppable goaltending tandem that led this team to the second-best record in the West. The issue is that neither Halak nor Elliott had been known as a big-name goalie before last season, and it wouldn't be right to expect them to put up the same numbers. If they falter, how will the rest of the team fare?
Detroit welcomes Swiss superstar Damien Brunner, who will play alongside new captain Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk in his NHL debut. He and Zetterberg developed outstanding chemistry overseas, and if they can keep it going in the NHL, the rest of the league better watch out.
Detroit is a little weak on defense, but St. Louis is a little weak on offense. The Blues have always been terrific at the Scottrade Center, and while the Wings were less-than-impressive on the road last year, they have a history of playing well away from home. These are two very evenly-talented teams that should provide for an excellent showdown in the Gateway City to open up the season.
Prediction: St. Louis takes advantage of home ice and beats Detroit 4-3.