The Pittsburgh Penguins opened the season last night by raising their championship banner to the rafters and then dispatching the New York Rangers before yet another sell out crowd. Powered by goals by Evgeni Maklin (1), Sidney Crosby (1) and Mr. (Tyler) Kennedy (1) the Penguins downed the Rangers 3-2.

The Penguins looked good last night despite a preseason in which they won only 1 game. Of course that was because their stars were not the focus of those games and a lot of players no longer with the team were getting much of the icetime. Fleury looked sharp making some spectacular saves by flashing his glove hand and stopped 25 of 27 shots and looked like he hasn’t missed a beat since the Finals ended a few months ago.

Yes, it is still early. But this is an encouraging sign for a team that played late into the year last season and had a very short off season. The third line of Stall, Cooke and Kennedy also played yet another strong game leading me to once again call them the best third line in all of hockey. They cycled, checked, and shot like a top line at many times and that is what you like to see from guys on the #3 line. I was also happy to see that Bylsma decided to keep Kennedy on the third line rather than move him up to the second line. Dupuis played there most of the night instead. Kennedy is a great fit for the third line and while I have no doubt that he can play on the second line with Malkin, his chemistry with his current linemates should not be sacrificed.

Today the Penguins are in New York to play the Islanders in the second game of the season. The Islanders have not taken to the ice yet in the regular season so far.

It is going to be a long road to hoe starting tonight as the Pittsburgh Penguins begin their defense of the Stanley Cup against the New York Rangers. But after the banners are raised and the recognition ends it is back to work.

To win the Cup again will take a lot of effort. This is a Penguins team with a lot of players who have played a lot of hockey over the past two seasons. They have the experience and they have got the talent. But they also have a big bullseye on their backs as everyone will be looking to prove that they are better than the Stanley Cup Champions. Teams like the Flyers, the Capitals and the Hurricanes will all be looking to avenge play off losses each time they square off against the Penguins. I leave the Red Wings out of that category because the two will meet just once in a non-conference match up that will neither make or break either team’s season.

The names have been inscribed on the cup and what is done is done. Tonight it is back to business and that business is to dance once again with Lord Stanley.

Good luck Pens! Let’s make the last season in the old Igloo a memorable one!

The question has been asked a lot; what exactly would be the salary cap for the 2009-2010 season? There was a lot of speculation that it might even go down a little but that really was not expected. Today, on the same day as the entry draft, the league answer that question with a $100,000 answer.

Yep, that is the increase for next season. Teams will now have $56.8 million to spend rather that $56.7 million. That puts the bind on any team with multiple important free agents to sign. Teams like the Penguins. So if players like Guerin and Fedotenko were expecting to get huge raises to stick around you can pretty much kiss those thoughts goodbye guys!

Reports are that the the Penguins have already talked with Fedotenko’s agent and extended an initial offer for next season. We’ll see if they can fit him in under the cap and who else they are actively chasing down to resign in the coming days. Guerin will likely not resign until after the 1st when he sees what other teams will offer his veteran and experienced frame. But I still hold out hope that he will take a pay cut to stay on a team like the Penguins.