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Realignment and the Olympic break made for some challenges with the 2013-14 NHL schedule that was released Friday. There are four divisions instead of six, complete with new names and a different balance of games, and time off from Feb. 9-26 to let players go to Sochi, Russia, for the 2014 Winter Olympics. "We wanted to make the schedule as normal as it could be," deputy commissioner Bill Daly said on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio. "With 17 days in the middle ... thats sometimes tough to do." The season begins with the Montreal Canadiens hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs Oct. 1. Later that night the Chicago Blackhawks raise their Stanley Cup champions banner against the Washington Capitals, and the Winnipeg Jets visit the Edmonton Oilers. It marks the first time since 2008 that the defending champion will open the regular season against a team out of its conference. The Detroit Red Wings raised their banner that year against the Maple Leafs. The Calgary Flames open Oct. 3 at the Capitals, the Vancouver Canucks Oct. 3 at the San Jose Sharks and the Ottawa Senators Oct. 4 at the Buffalo Sabres. Vancouver at San Jose and Ottawa at Buffalo are division-rivalry games within the NHLs new alignment that includes the Metropolitan, Atlantic, Central and Pacific Divisions. The Eastern Conference has 16 teams and the West 14, leading to some imbalance in how the schedule is put together. The Metropolitan is made up of the Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets. The Atlantic has the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Senators, Sabres, Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Central has the Jets, Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues. The Pacific has the Canucks, Flames, Oilers, Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes and Anaheim Ducks. Daly said much debate went into naming the divisions, including consultation with teams. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby learned about the Metropolitan Division moniker on a conference call with reporters Friday. "I dont know what to think," Crosby said. "I like the Atlantic, Im from Atlantic Canada. It kind of had a good feel to it, but I can deal with Metropolitan Division. Its going to take some time to get used to, but I can live with that." Players will also have to live with some more back-to-back games because the Olympic break compacts the schedule. "You find out pretty quickly that an Olympic-year schedule is a little more condensed and a little more intense than a typical year," Crosby said. "You have to take advantage of your days off because it is condensed." Daly called it a "fairly normal schedule with fairly normal density." But another challenge exists for those going to Sochi, where Crosby said "every game is like a Game 7." "Then obviously coming back from that, too, you basically go from being at that level of intensity to regular-season games," he said. "Regular-season games are always easy to get up for, but theres definitely a period of time where you come back and youve played those intense games, youve got to find a way to keep going and maintain that same level through the rest of the season and hopefully the playoffs." Former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson will make his return to Ottawa on Dec. 1 when the Red Wings visit the renamed Canadian Tire Centre. As previously announced, the Maple Leafs and Red Wings will play the Winter Classic Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Four other outdoor games will take place as part of the NHLs Stadium Series. And the Heritage Classic returns, as Vancouver hosts Ottawa at B.C Place on March 2. The regular season concludes Sunday, April 13. The playoffs begin Wednesday, April 16. Stitched Bulls Jerseys . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. Chicago Bulls Pro Shop . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. https://www.cheapbulls.com/ . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Chicago Bulls Gear . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Fake Bulls Jerseys . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players.Alastair Cook does not think Englands World Twenty20 final defeat should detract from a fine tournament and 18 months of progress. Test captain Cook was watching from home when an Eoin Morgan-skippered side was beaten in heartbreaking fashion by the West Indies.Ben Stokes conceded four successive sixes to Carlos Brathwaite to start the final over and a four-wicket defeat meant England ended the tournament as gallant runners-up. Its been a really good 18 months for England cricket as a whole with some fantastic results in all formats, Cook told Sky Sports News HQ.With the talent and the resources weve got we should be competing in all three areas, and we are doing that.Credit goes to everyone behind the scenes, the coaches and of course Andrew Strauss who has come in and done what he has done.The danger is now not to rest, we have to keep pushing forward with some massive cricket coming up. Weve got to keep driving English cricket forward as a whole. It would have been great to have that trophy as another step towards itThey deserve all the credit for getting to that final, and the way they played to do that, but because its such a hard tournament to win, you have to ttake that opportunity.dddddddddddd Cook felt for Ben Stokes after his implosion at the end of the World Twenty20 final Cook also added his support for Stokes, who was left in tears after Brathwaites incredible four-ball assault.I dont think I have ever felt as sorry for a bowler than I did for Ben at the end, but thats Twenty20 cricket for you - you can win it or lose it in an over. It was some unbelievable hitting, he added.I do feel for Ben but hes the type of character you want with you in the trenches. We should be talking about how good the hitting was rather than him having a stinker.Thats how the game has changed these last couple of years. Guys are coming in, getting 30 off 10 balls and hitting the ball a mile. Also See: County build-up LIVE! Stokes will bounce back Windies win thrilling final England T20 ratings ' ' '