Bodog Beat

Joe

The Colorado Avalanche open the season tonight at home against the Boston Bruins, who will be starting the year with four straight road games.

The Avalanche have Joe Sakic back for a 20th season to join veterans Milan Hejduk, Ryan Smyth, newcomer Darcy Tucker, and young stars Paul Stastny and Wojtek Wolski. New head coach Tony Granato will be looking to add more tempo on offense for a team that was in the middle of the pack in goal scoring last season.

The Bruins will have their young star Patrice Bergeron back in the lineup after being without him for almost all of last season. The 23-year-old should give a boost to a club that had only two 20-plus goal scorers in 2007-08. The Bruins have high hopes this year after making the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

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