DETROIT, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- The first NHL games of the 2008-2009 season to be played on North American ice will take place Thursday -- highlighted by the Detroit Red Wings' opener.
Detroit will unfurl its 11th Stanley Cup championship banner Thursday when the Red Wings play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The other three games on the schedule will find Boston at Colorado, Calgary at Vancouver and Anaheim at San Jose.
Detroit will again be among the favorites to win the NHL crown, thanks in part to the efforts of winger Johan Franzen. He scored 28 goals in his final 32 games last season, including the playoffs.
The NHL began its season last weekend in Europe. The New York Rangers won two games against Tampa Bay in Prague and Pittsburgh split two games with Ottawa in Stockholm.
