The last time that most of the Chicago Blackhawks were on the ice in a meaningful game, it was moments before they would life the Stanley Cup Trophy, because they were playing game six of the Stanley Cup Finals. Because they won that trophy last year, they get to celebrate by putting up a Championship Banner at the start of the new season, but the celebration didn't last long, as the New York Rangers came to town looking to get a victory over the Blackhawks.

Corey Crawford has done wonders for the Blackhawks in the playoffs the past two years, but sometimes he has a rough start to his outings. That would certainly be said of him in tonight's game. Oscar Lindberg would be the man to get the first goal of tonight's contest, as he lit up the lamp behind Crawford to give the Rangers an early 1-0 advantage. J.T. Miller and Viktor Stalberg both were credited with assists on the goal. The Rangers had to feel confident with an early lead, especially when they have Henrik Lundqvist back in the goal, as he is easily one of, if not the very best goalie in the NHL. The Blackhawks would tie it up with 5:36 left in the period as Patrick Kane and Niklas Hjalmarsson would get the puck to Artemi Panarin, who would tie the game up at one goal a piece. Panarin is actually a 23 year old Rookie for the Blackhawks so this is his first career NHL goal. Look for the former member of SKA Saint Petersburg to do quite well in the NHL as he seemed to score quite easily in this game.

Still in the first period though the Rangers would get back on top. Kevin Klein rifled one past Crawford for his first goal of the season with just over three minutes left in the period. Keith Yandle and Miller were given credits for these assists, and while they were still just starting to enjoy their lead again, Derek Stepan would get his first goal of the season with 59 seconds left in the opening period. Kevin Hayes and Chris Kreider were able to get the assists on this goal, and that would actually be all that the Blackhawks would score in the game. Crawford would wind up saving the final 16 shots of the game to get 24 saves for a rough 88.9% save percentage in his home opener.

Teuvo Teravainen would end up getting the only remaining goal in the game in a losing effort, as he was assisted by both Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews before his shot. There would be great goalie play for the final 33 minutes of the game as Crawford and Lundqvist both settled down into their areas of comfort. Lundqvist would get 32 saves in the game though, as he saved 94.1% of the shots that came his way.

Next up for the New York Rangers, (1-0, 2 points) is a Friday, October 9 game at Nationwide Arena to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets (0-0, 0 points). Meanwhile the Chicago Blackhawks (0-1, 0 points) will travel to face the other New York team in their first ever game in Barclays Arena, the New York Islanders (0-0, 0 points).

The season is finally underway and it's time for more pucks to drop!