NHL Season starts saturday in Europe

As the NHL begins to debate the expediency of expanding the league to Europe, four teams are already there in preparation for the start of the 2008-2009 hockey season.  Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are in Stockholm, Sweden preparing to open their campaign against the Ottawa Senators at The Globe Arena.  In Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, the New York Rangers will battle the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Penguins, last season’s Stanley Cup runner up, are looking to get off to a good start this year.  They’ve shown a tendency recently to start slowly before getting into gear after the All Star Break.  Ottawa, meanwhile, will be looking to break their trend of early playoff exits this season.  The trip to Sweden is a homecoming of sorts for them, or at least for their Captain and Swede native Daniel Alfredsson.

Alfredsson will begin the season on the reunited “Pizza Line” with Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza in hopes to give the team some scoring punch right out of the gate.  The line played together during the team’s final US preseason game against Montreal, and will be on display again as the Sens face Swedish Elite League team Frolunda on Thursday night.  Pittsburgh will head to Helsinki, Finland on Thursday for their final preseason contest against Finish Elite League entrant Jokerit before heading back to Stockholm to await the start of the NHL campaign.

Ottawa and Pittsburgh will play twice in Sweden with another game scheduled for Sunday.  After that, they’ll return to North America with the Senators in action next on 10/11 as they host the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings at Scotiabank Place.  Pittsburgh will also get a break following their season opening European trip, and will begin their home schedule on 10/11 at Mellon Arena against the New Jersey Devils.