In this April 22, 2008 file photo, Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin, of Russia, celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in Washington. The Capitals' annual team dinner has been at the end of the season lately, because that made the scheduling easy: Everyone figured they knew when the team's season would end. Not now. Not with Ovechkin leading a young core of players. Not with the league's coach of the year, Bruce Boudreau, bringing the best out of everyone with his aggressive tactics.

In this Sept. 28, 2008 photo, Carolina Hurricanes' Scott Walker is escorted into the penalty box by an official after fighting during the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Raleigh, N.C. Walker, along with other impact players missed time down the stretch last season because they were seriously hurt.

Philadelphia Flyers veteran hockey players Terry Crisp, left, and goalie Bernie Parent, from the Stanley Cup teams, talk before they and other veteran players met in the former Flyers locker room with youngsters from a local youth league, Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, in Philadelphia. The visit by the youngsters was part of a short tour of the sports facility which is slated to be demolished early next year.

Philadelphia Flyers veteran hockey player Terry Crisp greets a local youth league hockey player in the former Flyers locker room Monday Oct. 6, 2008, in Philadelphia. Other veteran players also met with the youngsters who were there as part of a short tour of the sports facility which is slated to be demolished early next year.

Philadelphia Flyers veteran hockey players Bob "The Hound" Kelly, left, and Dave "The Hammer" Schultz, from the Stanley Cup teams, joke around before they and other veteran players met in the former Flyers locker room with youngsters from a local youth league, Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, in Philadelphia. The visit by the youngsters was part of a short tour of the sports facility which is slated to be demolished early next year.

New Jersey Devils' goalie Martin Brodeur makes a save as as he falls on the Philadelphia Flyers' Scottie Upshall (9) in the third period during an NHL pre-season hockey game at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008. The Devils defeated the Flyers 4-3.

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Fans watch as the New Jersey Devils leave the ice after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Riley Cote #32 of the Philadelphia Flyers is hit into the boards by Anssi Salmela #34 of the New Jersey Devils on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Flyers 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Scott Hartnell #19 of the Philadelphia Flyers backs into Bryce Salvador #24 of the New Jersey Devils on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Flyers 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Assistant Coach John MacLean of the New Jersey Devils gives players instructions in their game against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Flyers 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Head coach Brent Sutter of the New Jersey Devils gives his players instructions in their game against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Flyers 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: The Philadelphia Flyers and the New Jersey Devils mix it up on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Flyers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Daniel Briere #48 (L0 and Mike Richards #18 (R) of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrate Briere's third period goal against the New Jersey Devils on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defetaed the Flyers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Arron Asham #45 of the Philadelphia Flyers is stopped by Martin Brodeur #30 of the New Jersey Devils on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Flyers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Flyers' Danny Briere (48) puts the puck past New Jersey Devils' goalie Martin Brodeur (30) as the Devils John Madden (11) looks on in the third period during an NHL preseason hockey game at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008. The Devils defeated the Flyers 4-3.

Philadelphia Flyers' Riley Cote (32) fights New Jersey Devils' P.L. Letourneau-Leblond (58) in the third period during an NHL preseason hockey game at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008. The Devils defeated the Flyers 4-3.

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Scott Hartnell #19 of the Philadelphia Flyers hits P.L. Letourneau-Leblond #58 of the New Jersey Devils into the glass on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Martin Biron #43 of the Philadelphia Flyers kicks out a shot as Brian Gionta #14 of the New Jersey Devils tries to control the rebound on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Glen Metropolit #13 of the Philadelphia Flyers flips Anssi Salmela #34 of the New Jersey Devils on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Ossi Vaananen #23 of the Philadelphia Flyers hits Dainius Zubrus #8 of the New Jersey Devils with his stick on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

New Jersey Devils' Dainius Zubrus (8) knocks Philadelphia Flyers' Braydon Coburn (5) off the puck in the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008.

New Jersey Devils' David Clarkson (23) reacts after scoring a goal past Philadelphia Flyers' goalie Martin Biron (43) in the second period during an NHL preseason hockey game at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008.

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Daniel Briere #48 of the Philadelphia Flyers is checked into the boards by Bryce Salvador #24 of the New Jersey Devils on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Brian Rolston #12 of the New Jersey Devils returns to the bench after scoring at 10:06 of the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Arron Asham #45 of the Philadelphia Flyers checks Bryce Salvador #24 of the New Jersey Devils into the boards on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Flyers' Simon Gagne (12) is congratulated by teammates Danny Briere, center, and Mike Knuble (22) after Gagne scored a power play goal past New Jersey Devils' goalie Martin Brodeur (30) in the first period during an NHL preseason hockey game at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008.

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Simon Gagne #12 of the Philadelphia Flyers scores on the power play at 17:21 of the first period against the New Jersey Devils on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Mike Richards #18 of the Philadelphia Flyers and David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils wrestle during a fight on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Mike Knuble #22 of the Philadelphia Flyers is stopped by Martin Brodeur #30 of the New Jersey Devils on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Goaltender Martin Biron #43 of the Philadelphia Flyers can't stop a shot by Zach Parise #9 of the New Jersey Devils as the puck goes into the net for a first period power play goal at the 13 minute mark. Parise is joined by Bobby Holik #16 on October 4, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)