Why watching the NHL won’t be the same this season

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The NHL returns in full form on Tuesday night, and it couldn’t come at a better time for the local sports scene.

With the Yankees a quick out in the postseason, and with the Jets and Giants off to awful 1-4 starts, the Rangers and Islanders will look to help carry us into and through the long winter, along with the Nets and the Knicks starting their respective NBA seasons next week.

Puck fans will note that the upcoming NHL campaign features a few exciting developments — including a new expansion team in Seattle and new high-profile TV partners — as well as the return to a full travel schedule after being forced to stage a bubble tournament for the Stanley Cup in 2020 and a 56-game slate that featured only realigned divisional play last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.