i swear to you i was walking beside Matthew Perry in downtown Calgary

well...hockey is finally back and i couldn't be happier. so far i would say the game looks better than ever with the new rule changes. and of special note in that regard is the crackdown on obstruction that they are trying AGAIN this year(for the billionth time). only this time it seems different. And i believe it starts with the attitude. Everyone from the refs, to the players, to the coaches and everyone else seems to have a better attitude about this than in previous attempts. Usually when they try to crack down on the obstruction, it lasts for maye a couple weeks, and then the players and coaches get upset at the refs for calling so many penalties and they harras the refs non-stop until they stop calling the penalties. This year, however, i haven't been hearing or reading the usual complaints and i have even noticed a difference in the players on the ice trying to adapt to the new rule rather than continuing on in their clutching and grabbing. tonight for instance, i was watching the Phoenix-Dallas hockey game on TV and on more than one occasion i noticed players reach up with their sticks to hook someone from behind, and then suddenly stop and either put their stick down or just continue skating with their stick up, but just hovering near the opposing player rather than following through with the hook. as a result - though there is still the parade to the penalty box so far in the early going while the players adjust - the game has opened up, and though not always higher scoring, it has been very exciting to watch, with alot of action on both ends. i know it's still very early in the season and it may be too soon to be spouting off like this, but everything just seems different this year, and i think all the rule chages have had and will continue to have a positive effect on the game. i look forward to watching many more exciting games this year. and i also look forward to seeing the panthers with the cup at the end of the year(i know it probly won't happen, but they're off to a great start and Luongo has never looked better, so you never know...just let me live in my dream world here).