Winnipeg and Ottawa open the season to fans' delight
Recording artist Sarah McLachlan, second left, sings the Canadian and American national anthems with students from her music school before the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks play their season opening game on Jan. 19, 2013.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Anaheim Ducks' Bobby Ryan, left, is upended by the Vancouver Canucks' Manny Malhotra as Anaheim's Nick Bonino, right, skates past during first period NHL hockey action in Vancouver on Jan. 19, 2013.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Former Montreal Canadiens player Jean Beliveau, centre, is given a torch to carry before the season's opening game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 19, 2013.CHRISTINNE MUSCHI/Reuters
St. Louis Blues' T.J. Oshie celebrates after scoring during the second period of the season opener against the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 19, 2013.Jeff Roberson/The Associated Press
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis (26) celebrates with left wing Cory Conacher after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals during second period action on Jan. 19, 2013.Brian Blanco/The Associated Press
Montreal Canadiens' David Desharnais (51) slides in on Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltender Ben Scrivens and Dion Phaneuf (3) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Jan. 19, 2013.Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press
Florida Panthers centre Jonathan Huberdeau, right, celebrates his first goal as Peter Mueller (88) looks on during the first period of a game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 19, 2013.Wilfredo Lee/The Associated Press
Dallas Stars left wing Ray Whitney laughs as he warms up before his opening game against the Phoenix Coyotes on Jan. 19, 2013.LM Otero/The Associated Press
Toronto Maple Leafs' fans cheer on their team before they face the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Jan. 19, 2013.Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press
New York Rangers' Rick Nash warms up in front of fans before the start of the Rangers’ season opener versus the Boston Bruins at TD Garden in Boston on Jan. 19, 2013.Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters
Montreal Canadiens' fans cheer outside the Bell Centre in Montreal on Jan. 19, 2013, ahead of the Canadiens' NHL home opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs.Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press
Montreal Canadiens' fan Will Thrall, left, and Toronto Maple Leafs' fan Jonny Wright cheer on their teams outside the Bell Centre in Montreal on Jan. 19, 2013, ahead of the Canadiens' NHL home opener against the Leafs.Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press
Montreal Canadiens' fans arrive at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Jan. 19, 2013, ahead of the Canadiens’ game versus the Toronto Maple LeafsGraham Hughes/The Canadian Press
Fans watch as Philadelphia Flyers' Luke Schenn (22) warms up at the Flyers game versus the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 19, 2013.Mel Evans/The Associated Press
Los Angeles Kings players watch as their Stanley Cup championship banner is raised at the Staples Center before their opening night NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks in L.A. on Jan. 19, 2013.LUCY NICHOLSON/Reuters
Winnipeg Jets fan Martino Vergata arrives with his son Rogan at the MTS Centre for the first game of the NHL hockey season against the Ottawa Senators in Winnipeg January 19, 2013.FRED GREENSLADE/Reuters
Tyler Macfarlane, Cody Laschyn and Norman Lavallee celebrate before NHL action between the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg on Saturday, January 19, 2013.JOHN WOODS/The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Jets fan Irv Koch, left, buys souvenirs at the MTS Centre before their first game of the NHL hockey season against the Ottawa Senators in Winnipeg January 19, 2013.FRED GREENSLADE/Reuters
Marcel Lemire and Sue Nazarewich thank Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman before NHL action between the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg on Saturday, January 19,JOHN WOODS/The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Jets fans pick up merchandise including a Dustin Byfuglien bobblehead before NHL action between the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators in Winnipeg on Saturday, January 19, 2013.JOHN WOODS/The Canadian Press
Los Angeles Kings fans cheer as they take pictures of the Stanley Cup outside the Staples Center before an NHL hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks in Los Angeles, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013.Jae C. Hong/The Associated Press
A Staples Center employee hugs a Los Angeles Kings fan as fans return for the first NHL game of the Kings’ season against the Chicago Blackhawks in Los Angeles, January 19, 2013.LUCY NICHOLSON/Reuters