Five questions for NHL Opening Day

Blackhawks players pose with the Cup after winning in Boston. (Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports)

The short NHL offseason is over and the puck drops tonight on the 2013 14 season. Five things to know about the day in hockey

1. Can the Chicago Blackhawks stop the jinx

Banner raising ceremonies aren t kind to defending champions with the last three and four of the last five losing the home opener. The Blackhawks spoiled the Los Angeles Kings party last season and will try to avoid a repeat of their 2010 loss.

The big question Will they touch the Stanley Cup Boston Bruins players skated with it in 2011 because they clinched on the road and wanted to give their fans a show. The Kings who clinched at home were more subdued each lifting it in place.

The Blackhawks did clinch on the road so we ll see.

2. Will Phil Kessel be a richer man

Reports out of Canada suggest the Toronto Maple Leafs winger is getting an extension.

Kessel s extension AAV with TOR will be $8M. There s a signing bonus up front and another one in what would be a potential lockout year.

Bob McKenzie ( TSNBobMcKenzie) October 1 2013

Teams and players like to avoid the distraction of negotiations during the season and the Leafs face the Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m. ET. Seems like an appropriate day to get it done.

3. Can the Winnipeg Jets thrive in the West

They get their first taste of their realignment move when they face their new conference mates the Edmonton Oilers. The Jets say they must adjust from the up tempo East to the more structured West.

It can work both ways said Jets winger Blake Wheeler. Maybe we can trip up some teams as well.

4. Will Ovie have oomph

It was great watching Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin carrying the Olympic torch on Sunday. But will the trek from D.C. to Greece to D.C. to Chicago affect his game

Alex Ovechkin was the first Russian to carry the torch for the Sochi Olympics. (Dmitri Messinis/Getty Images)

Our guess He ll be pumped and flying around the ice.

5. What are the Olympic implications

Chicago s Corey Crawford and Washington s Braden Holtby went to Team Canada s orientation camp and hope to have good starts to secure a goaltending berth in Sochi.

Chicago can help Crawford s cause. It has four potential Canadian Olympians firing shots at Holtby Jonathan Toews Patrick Sharp Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.

Your schedule tonight

Toronto at Montreal 7

Washington at Chicago 8

Winnipeg at Edmonton 10

Follow the rest of USA TODAY Sports in depth NHL coverage at nhl.usatoday.com

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