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Remember (as noted in this very space) that this time of year is for hoping and wishing and all of that stuff. If you want to be realistic, and if this breaks anyone's heart, I apologize, but Tampa and Minnesota are not going to run the table, nor are the Devils, also undefeated at this point.

Not to pick on them, but lets use Tampa as an example. If we were to move this out to the end, Tampa Bay would score about 465 goals this year and give up 246. On the same token, Phoenix would only score 180, while surrendering 295.

At this rate, Atlanta would go 0-82, but Shawn McEachern would score over 80 goals. I could go on, but you get the idea.

For those of you playing rotisserie, just breath in slowly and deeply, and be assured in the knowledge that your first pick, Peter Forsberg, will outscore McEachern, and that Nikolai Khabibulin will more than likely have a GAA below 3.

One other early season note, while I'm on the subject. Detroit raised their Stanley Cup banner, then promptly went out and lost the game that followed the ceremony. I've noticed that this happens a lot. Whenever the home team has some sort of pregame festivities planned, the home team usually goes out and gets beaten. Now I understand all the psychological reasons for this, but you'd think that with all the money teams spend on all facets of everything remotely connected with the game, someone else would have picked up on this.

Here's my idea -- I know you want to raise the banners, or present the Silver Sticks (a big one at MSG) in front of the fans, but maybe do it on an off-day? This way, there can be just the ceremony, and there won't be the problem of the visiting team, sitting in the dressing room, sweating their butts of and probably getting motivated while you guys are glad-handing and back-patting. Anyway, that's just an idea.

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