Kicking off NHL 2014-2015

The National Hockey League kicks off their regular season this Wednesday with the Los Angeles Kings raising their

Reuters

Stanley Cup Champion banner from the previous season. The Kings are facing off with the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 8 before facing the New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. So how are we thinking this season will go?

West is probably still best?

The west is dominating championships in the NHL in the most recent years. In six of the past eight seasons, the west has come out on top. Besides the Penguins and the Bruins, the Blackhawks and the Kings have dominated the playoffs and the Stanley Cup. The Cup is predicted to stay in the West again with talent continuing to dominate on the western teams – Blackhawks, Kings and the Anaheim Ducks. If the Kings are able to pull off the repeat and win the Stanley Cup, they will be the first back to back champions since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.

Other things to look forward to this season:

Winter Classic – This year, the annual New Years Day game will be played in Washington D.C. at Nationals Park between the Blackhawks and the Capitals.

All-Star Game Returns – The NHL hasn’t had an All-Star game since 2012. This season, there will be an All-Star game Jan. 25. Last season there was not an All-Star game because of the Winter Olympics and the previous season was cancelled due to the NHL lockout.

Black Friday Game – Your post-Thanksgiving turkey coma will be complete with the Black Friday game featuring the Flyers and the Rangers. This game will be hosted by NBC and kick off their national broadcast schedule.

Of course, no hockey season is complete without some fighting, controversy and Sidney Crosby. Keep an eye out for all of that too.