The new NHL

Took in my first NHL game of the season the other night and saw the Islanders defeat the Ducks in a shootout.

The Ducks outshot New York 50-24 and should have won the game by 2-3 goals. However, New York's timely goaltending by Mike Dunham and a three-goal blitz to start the second period put the Ducks back on their heels.

What I liked: The refs and linesmen are calling everything so the game is cleaner and faster. ... The shootout is one of the best things to happen to the regular season. Everyone at Honda Center was on their feet throughout.

What I didn't: Ducks goalie JS Giguere gave up two soft goals and looked as if he was fighting the puck. Anaheim has speed skill and two of the three best D-men in the game (Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger), but it needs Giguere to have his A game if they want to live up to the Stanley Cup predictions.

Niedermayer might be the smartest player all-around in the league. He is never out of position, due in part to his great skating, but also due to the fact he KNOWS the game. ... Pronger looked lethargic at times, but he's large and talented at both ends of the ice.

The Islanders are an intersting bunch. Some speed, some skill, some fiestiness. When they gel, they could be decent. Playoff caliber? Maybe, but only because they're in the East.