The NHL Is Officially Underway

With 26 of the 30 teams back in action last night the NHL is now officially back in action. With the 13 games last night this would be the moment that many of the players were waiting over 110 days for. Yes the lockout lasted over 110 days. The Primetime game last night was as figured with most people the Chicago Blackhawks facing off against the defending Stanley Cup Champs in the Staples Center. If you ask me the home opener this year is a lot like what happened last season when the Boston Bruins raised their Stanley Cup Banner. Yes both defending champs in their respective season openers lost. The Bruins lost the night of their Home Opener last season, and the Kings lost yesterday afternoon to Chicago, 5-2.

Falcons Get First Hat Trick In Nearly 2 Years

The Falcons had played last night againt the Manchester Monarchs, Jonathan Audy-Marchessault had accomplished something that had not been done in almost 2 years, JAM recorded a Hat Trick, Jonathan Audy-Marchessault's goals came at the following times, 7:17 in the first to tie the game at 1, 18:49 in the first to make it a 3-2 Falcons lead and lastly 11:26 in the third to give the Falcons a 6-5 lead and that goal would prove to be the game winner, in a 7-5 Falcons "W".

Falcons Restock On Defense

With the NHL Lockout over, and a handful of players to be heading to Columbus, Springfield made a wise choice in begining to restock in areas that were weak last season when they lost Nick Holden, John Moore, Ryan Johansen to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Today the Falcons signed Bryan Helmer to an AHL contract for the rest of the season. Helmer is making a reappearance to Springfield as he was also there in 2003-2004. Helmer has played for seven other AHL teams in his career, the teams he had played for arein order as follows. Albany River Rats (1993-98), Worcester Ice Cats (1998-00), Manitoba Moose (2001-03), Springfield Falcons (2003-04), Grand Rapids Griffins (2004-06), San Antonio Rampage (2006-08), Hershey Bears (2008-10), and Oklahoma City Barons (2010-2012). Helmer has accomplished a big feat, with the fact that he is 40 years old, and in the midst of his 20th season. Helmer is one of only three players to accomplish this feat. Helmer also has three Calder Cup Championships under his belt, 1994-95 with Albany, and back to back in 2008-09 and 2009-10 with the Hershey Bears. Helmer has also got some NHL experience under his belt as well as he played in 146 games with four different NHL teams and tallying up 26 points in those game as well (8 goals, and 18 assists).