A bit more than two years ago, the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals were finishing up in SEPTEMBER.
9 months ago, the 2021 season started with the Canadian border closed, Minnesota at St. Louis in the West division with all the California teams, and all the teams in the Northeast US a short train trip away from each city. And two teams traditionally aligned in the same division played in the Cup Finals.
And we come to today. Wacky corporate sponsored divisions are gone. Conferences are back. Division numbers are finally balanced with Seattle in the Pacific. Despite their questionable decisions that torpedoed their draft after Vegas robbed everyone, the Pacific division is stronger as Arizona gets thrown into the lion's den of the Central division.
ESPN now has its hands on the broadcasting reigns. Pierre McGuire will no longer annoy us as he has banished himself to Ottawa. The playoffs will no longer play second fiddle to the Kentucky Derby.
Both games tonight are nationally televised on ESPN starting with PIT @ TB at 7:30pm EDT followed by the two newest teams SEA @ VGS at 10:15pm EDT.