After a few months without NHL hockey, the choppy online stream with dreadful audio really didn't seem to matter.
With an overly dramatic summer finally behind them, our Ottawa Senators are finally back to doing what they do best. The Sens would get goals from Buddy Robinson, Bobby Ryan and Milan Michalek as they cruised to an easy win over the Winnipeg Jets in the preseason opener. Hockey is back.
The first goal of the Senators preseason came off a faceoff win by Jim O'Brien. He won the puck clean back to the point to Troy Rutkowski who's quick point shot was deflected by Buddy Robinson. Not exactly household names but that's to be expected in preseason.
In the second period, the team's prize off season acquisition Bobby Ryan showed fans exactly what they can expect from him this season as he ripped a wrist shot high and passed Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson. The Jets would cut the lead to 2-1 but early in the third period the top line went to work again, this time Milan Michalek deflecting home an Erik Karlsson point shot to put Ottawa up 3-1.
And that's the way the game would finish.
After a long off season and a year where some of the team's top players suffered significant injuries, it was interesting to see how some of the bigger names looked in this game. A preseason game isn't always a great measuring stick but I thought Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek and Erik Karlsson all looked pretty good.
Certainly no sign of lingering injury issues those three.
Karlsson was probably the best of the group, logging more than 25 minutes of ice time and looking much better than he did last time we saw him against the Penguins in May.
Just a whole lot of positives to take away from that opener. Cory Conacher looked good, Joe Corvo showed that he can still be a useful player, Zack Smith looked a step faster than last season and Robin Lehner was solid in his part of the game.
Hockey is back and the Sens are off to a good start.
Ottawa will play their second preseason game in Saskatoon against the Calgary Flames tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 9:00 PM.
