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ARLINGTON, Va. -- The gangs almost entirely back for the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins and Presidents Trophy-winning Washington Capitals, Steven Stamkos re-upped with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the retooled Florida Panthers look ready for their close up.Get ready for a competitive race among those four teams in the Eastern Conference. Throw a healthy Carey Price back in net for the Montreal Canadiens and they could challenge, too, especially if defenseman Shea Weber fits well after a stunning summer trade from Nashville for P.K. Subban.Of course, it starts and ends with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Penguins.Theyre the Stanley Cup champs, theyre the No. 1, Capitals right winger Justin Williams said. Theyre the team to beat until somebody knocks them off.Pittsburgh was the best team in the playoffs last spring, going through the New York Rangers, Capitals, Lightning and San Jose Sharks to win the fourth Cup in franchise history. Washington was the best team in the regular season, 11 points ahead of the next-closest team, and is again the Metropolitan Division favorite.Here are some things to watch in the East:SUNSHINE STATE HOCKEYDont look now but two of the best young defensemen in hockey are playing in Florida: Aaron Ekblad for the Panthers and Victor Hedman for the Lightning. The Panthers have Finnish standout Aleksander Barkov and a real chance to win the Atlantic Division. Florida also added defensemen Keith Yandle and Jason Demers as part of its makeover and could take the next step after a surprise playoff appearance.Some of the guys we signed in the offseason gave us some more speed, a little more offense, president of hockey operations Dale Tallon said. Weve had two winning seasons in a row and weve made the playoffs and I think the fact that we got beat in the first round will be a motivating factor.OVECHKIN WATCHAlex Ovechkin led the NHL with 50 goals last season and isnt showing any signs of slowing down at age 31. He and the Capitals still havent won the Cup, and with several key players set to be free agents, this could be their best and last chance.Washington isnt just Ovechkin, as Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Braden Holtby and all-star centers Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom are all at the top of their games. More regular-season dominance should follow, but the playoffs are always the question.PRICE IS RIGHTAfter missing most of last season with a knee injury, a healthy Price is a welcome sight for the Canadiens. Price looked back to his old self winning the World Cup of Hockey with Canada, which general manager Marc Bergevin said puts everyones mind at ease, even our fans. The 2015 Hart, Vezina and Pearson winner is good enough to carry the Canadiens to the playoffs on his shoulders.NEW YORK, NEW YORKThe Islanders got deeper by adding wingers Andrew Ladd, Jason Chimera and P.A. Parenteau and defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. The Rangers got younger by signing college free agent Jimmy Vesey and trading for Mika Zibanejad. John Tavares and the Islanders are looking to build off their longest playoff run in 23 years in their second season in Brooklyn. Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers are trying to stay at the top because the elite goalie isnt getting any younger.MATTHEWS MANIATop pick Auston Matthews is immediately the face of the Toronto Maple Leafs under coach Mike Babcock. Itll be a while before Toronto is a playoff contender, but Matthews at 18 was a man among men playing professionally in Switzerland and looked comfortable against elite competition at the World Cup at 19.Hes shown that hes going to be responsible on both sides of the puck, has a great sense of how to use his body on the ice, said Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan, who had Matthews for Team North America at the World Cup. Hes a big man that protects pucks well. Hes able to use speed when he needs it.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno Wholesale Authentic Jerseys .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Wholesale Jerseys .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. http://www.wholesalejerseyschinaauthenticstore.com/ . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Cheap NFL Jerseys . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. The Barmy Army, a group of travelling England fans, has said it will not be following the team on tour in Bangladesh owing to prevailing security concerns. A statement on the groups website said that while the BCB had taken an interest in improving security for fans, the measures do not yet go far enough to persuade us to go against FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) advice.The development came two days after England ODI captain Eoin Morgan and opening batsman Alex Hales said they would not be travelling to Bangladesh either, despite the ECB saying the tour would go ahead, following an assessment of the security measures in place.Behind the scenes we have been liaising with the ECB and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and have now received advice from the latter, the Barmy Army said. We have been supplied with a list of hotels in Dhaka and Chittagong that will receive protection from the Bangladesh Police and been told that England supporters will be afforded their own segregated area within the stadium.However on the issue of escorts to and from stadiums (where due to local traffic conditions supporters will be most vulnerable to attack), we have been supplied with the contact details of a private seccurity company, the implication being that any extra security will have be at supporters own expense.dddddddddddd Whilst we are grateful that the BCB are taking an interest, we feel these measures do not yet go far enough to persuade us to go against FCO advice.It is a matter of great regret that we feel unable to endorse travel to Bangladesh. Those of us lucky enough to have visited this country on previous tours have lasting and fond memories of a warm welcome, friendly locals and wonderful food. Perhaps the greatest pleasure being able to mix freely with the general population, particularly in and around the stadiums. We were also able to wander and explore the teeming cities of Dhaka and Chittagong without fear. FCO advice specifically warns against such activities.The concerns over security for Englands tour of Bangladesh began after Dhaka, the nations capital, suffered a terrorist attack in July that left many dead. Australia had also cancelled their tour to the country at the end of last year and had pulled out of the Under-19 World Cup this year due to security concerns. ' ' '