I wouldn’t have minded booing Toronto, but the fact that it was on NYE and it was a HNIC game actually down graded it for me.  I figured I will probably be out with friends celebrating anyways and the fact that it is on HNIC makes it a great game to watch on television.

I am probably alone in that thinking, but I passed on it in the 1st round of my draft and I took the Oct 17th Pit game instead.  At that point, reports that Crosby might miss time hadn’t surfaced… but whether or not Crosby is there, the game will be nuts. 

If you consider how many ticket shares there are out there, a lot of people will be attending their first game. and the 8 day wait between the first two home games will drive people batty.

As for some of the other games you guys listed…

I HATE Boston and they were in high demand in my draft I was happy to let them go. 

#6  Capitals on Friday, March 16th#3  Coyotes on Thursday, December 1st
#2  Ducks on Saturday, December 17th
#6  Penguins on Saturday, October 17th

I am also going the the Canes game in March (hopefully this will have playoff implications) and the Flyers game in Feb.

Games I really wanted, but I am not atending:
Home opener
Season finale against Tampa

10. Vs. Wild (December 13th): I feel like the Wild are going to be our biggest rival after re-alignment next off-season.

9. Vs. Penguins (December 23): This game raps up a 7 game home-stand. Hopefully Crosby is healthy and plays in this one if he misses the first one in October.

8. Jets @ Maple Leafs (October 19th): I have a feeling Jets fans who are lurking in Toronto will invade the ACC while the Corporate suits leave their seats empty for the first period to give our Jets a boost.

7. Vs. Stars (March 14th): When the Jets left, I began following the Stars. Obviously now that we are back I will be casting the Stars aside, however for me this represents a changing of the guard in terms of my rooting interest.

6. Jets @ Red Wings (October 10th): A Saturday night game in Detroit that I will be 100% be making the drive down to Detroit to attend. The Jets lone chance to avenge Detroit pulling the plug on Jets 1.0

5. Jets @ Sabres (January 7th): Another Saturday night game I will be driving down to go represent our team in enemy territory. Interesting contrast, in that the Sabres are now a big-spending team, while the Jets are taking their place as budget conscious grow from within type of team.

4. Vs. Capitals (November 17): Winnipeg’s first look at Ovie. Will be interesting to hear what the outspoken and unpredictable Ovechkin has to say about our city.

3. Vs. Coyotes (December 1st): The reception Doan gets will be interesting. He had some comments back in May that rubbed Peggers the wrong way (regarding his desire to stay in Phoenix). Personally, I don’t feel much connection to Doan, considering he played 1 SEASON in Winnipeg as an 18 year old rookie.

2. Vs. Ducks (December 17): TEEMU

1. Vs. Maple Leafs (December 31): I echo Ezzy’s thoughts. This is going to be a huge party. I will be there. I can’t wait.

One game is noticeably absent from my list; the home opener. My reasoning: that game is not just another game like the ones listed above. It is its own category. It will be unlike anything the hockey world has ever seen. I will be in town for the game, but don’t have a ticket (STILL LOOKING, so if anyone needs a companion for the game… ) but no matter where I end up watching, this will be a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience that won’t compare to any other game. Period.