NHL Season Preview 2013

The NHL is back. After a 119 day lockout, the league is coming back after only a week of training camp. The season will only be 48 games and with only conference opponents facing  each other. That means the Stanley Cup will have two teams that have never faced each other during the season. That should make for a very interesting season. Here are some things and teams to look for when the first puck is dropped on Saturday.

Top Form

During the lockout, Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk
went to play in the KHL
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Unlike after the NBA lockout, the players have been playing in other leagues, putting many of them in mid-season form. Ilya Kovalchuk is one of the players who should be firing on all cylinders. He played for CSKA Moscow in the KHL. He captained the West in the KHL All-Star Game over the weekend and had a hat trick in the game. Kovalchuk had 42 points on 18 goals and 24 assists during the regular season. I  expect a lot for the hot Kovalchuk and the Devils this season. Same with Evgeny Malkin who played with the KHL's Metallurg Magnitagorsk during the lockout. He had 65 points on 23 goals and 45 assists. Malkin should be dominating in the first few weeks as Sidney Crosby will try to get back in the swing of things. 

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning had a bad season last year after coming into the season with high expectations. There were some bright spots and the Bolts. Steven Stamkos was the league leader in goals with 60 and 37 assists. Martin St. Louis had 49 assists and 25 goals. While the frontline was playing very well, the back line struggled. They averaged 3.39 goals against per game, worst in the league. They signed Andres Lindback to compete with Mathieu Garon for the starrting goalie spot. No matter what who starts, they need to keep the opposing players from scoring. If they can do that, they will be in good shape.

Vancouver Canucks

Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo
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The Canucks were the number one team going into the playoffs and lost in the first round to the number eight seed Los Angles Kings. The big controversy of the playoffs was over the goaltender situation, where starter Roberto Luongo in favor of Cory Schneider. It looks like Schneider will be the starter, as Luongo might be traded soon. One thing that worries me is that they only had three players who played in Europe during the lockout. I know some of their stars are getting older, but more players should have played during the lockout. With only a week to get ready for the season, the Canucks will need time to get into a rhythm. Vancouver has a chip on it's shoulder after last year's playoffs. Expect them to start slow and finish the season strong.