Columbus is 1-0-1 (Win, Loss, Shootout loss), good enough for 3 points.
Hockey 101 (from someone who's originally from hockey crazy Buffalo)
Win= 2 points
Shootout or OT Loss= 1 point
Loss= 0 pts.
2 conferences (East, West), 3 divisions in each conference, playoff seeding like NBA (division winners seeded 1,2,3, next 5 teams point wise make playoffs)
Due to the lockout this year, teams will play 48 games, all within their own conference. Teams will play 18 x in their own division and 3 x against the other 10 teams in their conference).
Most whistles will be due to icing (puck goes from defensive zone all the way past the last red line where the other team touches it first) or offsides (player in offensive zone (past blue line) before puck).
Hockey is a much better game to see live, if you get a chance, go. Lake Erie Monster games are a blast. I suggest sitting higher (not on the glass) so you can see the play develop. The glass can sometimes distort the view and not give a clear picture of what's happening.
Buffalo has good goaltending and decent talent but seems to disappoint come playoff time. St. Louis is a very good up and coming team which brought a lot of excitement to the playoffs last year. Nashville and Minnesota are going to be good. The Ottawa Senators (my team) were predicted to be the worst team in hockey last year and made the playoffs. (That is another good young team goaltending and defense wise). A lot of times, the hottest team ends up winning the cup (last year the LA Kings won as an 8 seed, playing the NJ Devils, who were a 6 seed). Basically, pay attention to whoever gets hot starting April 1st.
The Minnesota Wild (West) and the New York Rangers(East) are the favorites this season.
I'm hoping to make the trip to Nationwide this year.