from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of Yahoo.

The NHL's post-lockout slogan says "Hockey is back." But obviously hockey never left – only the NHL did – and obviously it's going to take at least a couple of weeks before actual, legitimate NHL hockey is back, too.

As the Penguins and Flyers were trying to find their legs, the reigning champion Los Angeles Kings fell behind the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-0, and lost, 5-2. It wasn't because their arms were tired from taking another victory lap with the Stanley Cup or because the hockey gods were sick of being disrespected. (We think.)

The pattern continued the rest of the day around the league, and just wait until some of these same teams play again Sunday. The Flyers hit the road to play at Buffalo in less than 24 hours.

One veteran scout said he would draw no conclusions from these early games. They aren't even like preseason games, because the players aren't all starting from the same point. Some have been playing in other leagues; most have not been. Some are in shape and sharp; others are not. They have had only six days of training camp together. That's it.

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