NHL Northeast

As the NHL regular season draws near, we look into how the reigning champs and company will fare. By Meaghan McGrath

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

     Despite the hype postseason baseball has been getting lately (insert sarcastic comment about the Boston Red Sox) no one can forget hockey is just starting up.  The preseason is coming to a close with many opening games next week and the predictions for the new season coming in like a wildfire.  
     The NHL’s Northeast division has certainly warranted much of this attention as it includes the 2011 Stanley Cup Champions, the Boston Bruins. The rest of the division, though, has its eyes set on passing the defending champs. 
     Just to remind everyone, the division standings went down last year like this: the Boston Bruins brought home the gold followed by the Montreal Canadiens, the Buffalo Sabres, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and finally, the Ottawa Senators, who’s 2007 Stanley Cup Finals appearance has all but faded completely from everyone’s mind. 


This coming season should play out just like the last: 

1. The Bruins are still on their high from winning the cup, but are going to have to kick it into high gear to duplicate last year’s season. 2. The Habs, with their only significant addition being Erik Cole, will definitely have to work to earn a postseason spot this year. 3. Buffalo is in the running to win the division this year, and new owner Terry Pegula is ready to prove that it will happen. 4. Strong defense from the Maple Leafs will help this team to excel this season, and hopefully the forwards will follow suit. 5. Ottawa has started out strong so far under new head coach Paul MacLean. Senators fans are desperately waiting for a fresh start from this new team.  

     Only three more days till the start of the hockey season and Syracuse is already getting colder in preparation for the games on Thursday. Who will you be rooting for? 


News and notes from around the division:

• The Boston Bruins pulled through with a 3-2 victory Saturday against the New York Islanders in their last preseason game. The B's play again on Thursday at home against the Philadelphia Flyers.

• Helsinki, Finland will witness the Buffalo Sabres regular season opener against the Anahiem Ducks Friday. The Sabres will then travel to Berlin, Germany the following day to play the Los Angeles Kings.

• The Montreal Canadiens finished up 2-6 in preseason play. The Habs open the season in Toronto against he Maple Leafs, who went 4-4 in the preseason.

• The Ottawa Senators unveiled their heritage uniform, which commemorates their 1927 Stanley Cup victory, on Saturday. The uniform features the signature“O”on the front of the red, black, and white jersey. Unfortunately, you will not be seeing these jerseys when they play at Detroit against the Red Wings in their first regular season game Friday.