The National Hockey League (NHL) starts this friday. We can look forward to some interesting match-ups. What teams will get a head start and determine the pace of the first part of the 2013/14 season? What captain will bring his team all the way to the Stanley cup?
Some of our favourites in NHL 2013/14:
Pittsburgh Penguins – Always at the top. Will Malkin and Crosby lead the penguins to another great season?
Detroit red Wings – Will the swedish blue-wings (now with Daniel Alfredsson from Ottawa!) continue the legacy of the Detroit dynasty?
Washington Capitals – Is is finally time for the heroes of the capital to go all the way?
New York Rangers – With the great king Henrik between the goal-posts, can the Rangers bring the cup home to New York for the first time since 1994?
As always, as Swedes, we are cheering a bit extra for teams that have plenty of our countrymen between their posts. Detroit Red Wings have been a long time favourite, especially with captain Nicklas ”The Perfect Human” Lidström in the team, as well as Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmström, Johan Franzén among others. The New York Rangers are on the lips of many Swedes, much thanks to goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist who was a big part of the Olympic gold medal team in Torino 2006. When the Swedish NHL-players doesn’t go far in the Stanley Cup we always hope that they will come to Europe and play in the national team for the World Championships. Although not as big an event as the Olympics or World Cup, it is always a nice competition that takes place every year. The last time Sweden won the World Championships was in 2006, a few months after the Olympic gold medal. Every year, we hope for new medals and are always looking forward to the rivalry matches against Finland.
