The second “season opener” for the Rangers gets under way tonight at MSG, with the Rangers hosting the Chicago Blackhawks (7:00pm – MSG). The team then heads down to Philadelphia tomorrow to open the season for the Flyers in what will be another busy weekend.

The Blackhawks are a team that is on the rise, and certainly a playoff spot is not out of the question. Both the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune have previews of the Hawks’ season.

From the Rangers side, there are great expectations of another run for the cup, and several new Rangers are excited to be playing their first game at MSG.

Gone are much of the veteran presence from last season, and in place a team that looks more like the Devils than ever before. New York will be hoping that it translates into the same sort of success they had in the two games in Prague.

Larry Brooks takes the Flyers ownership to task over the use of Alaskan Governor (and VP nominee) Sarah Palin’s dropping of the puck to open the season in Philadelphia Saturday.

The Rangers added some depth yesterday, signing 20 year old blueliner Tysen Dowzak from the Kelowna Rockets.

Brian Leetch and Mike Richter are heading to the US Hockey Hall of fame, along with Brett Hull and Cammi Granato.