It should have come to nobody's surprise that the NHL schedule-makers put the Penguins first meeting with old coach Mike Sullivan into primetime. Much less making the Penguins face him twice in the first three games.
The schedule-makers are trying to set the Penguins up for absolute cinema and are trying to see if they can defeat him twice in the first three games.
The Penguins can do the funniest thing on opening night
The Penguins got absolutely embarrassed on opening night last year at home by getting run out of their own building by a score of 6-0.
Tristan Jarry and the whole Penguins team was absolutely horrible in this game and have nobody to blame but themselves. But the Penguins have an opportunity to get their revenge that they are seeking against the Rangers.
They have an opportunity to march into Madison Square Garden, defeat their former head coach, and show them what for in their own building.
They should do exactly what the Rangers did to them on opening night last season. Start fast, win puck battles, get on the board first, and go from there.
The Penguins usually play better when they get the first goal, and if they can start fast against Sullivan's Rangers, look out.
The schedule-makers wanted it this way
As a casual fan, once i saw that Mike Sullivan was heading to the Rangers, i figured that they were going to put at least one of the matchups into primetime.
Sullivan coached the Penguins for almost ten seasons and everyone wants to watch him faceoff against his beloved Penguins for the first-time when they come to MSG on opening night.
No matter of the result, the schedule makers had to think to themselves that this is a victory for them and for their revenue as it should get a ton of viewers.