It is Thursday, October 8, and while I am still nursing the emotional scars of seasons past, the Maple Leafs are officially 2-2-0. With 80 games left to play, the season is very much live, and we are only two games back in the Atlantic. I try to remain cynical, but here we are again, finding new ways to hope. Looking back at yesterday, October 7, we saw Pittsburgh fall 3-5 to Washington, Colorado drop a 2-3 decision to Winnipeg, and Edmonton handle Anaheim 5-2. Today, however, the schedule is packed. We have ten games on the docket, starting with a flurry of 7:00 PM ET puck drops like Philadelphia at Ottawa, Dallas at Buffalo, and Minnesota at Tampa Bay. Vancouver faces Carolina, Nashville visits Montreal, and Utah heads to Boston. Later, Chicago meets the Islanders, San Jose travels to St. Louis, and Colorado plays Calgary. Personally, I am bracing myself for tonight's 10:00 PM ET clash between our Leafs and Vegas. It is a long road ahead, and if history is any indication, it will likely be paved with more 'what-ifs' than championships. But hey, the ice is fresh and the standings are wide open.