It wasn't one for the history books. But the Bruins, while integrating some new faces and welcoming back some old ones, got the better of Colorado and opened the 08-09 season with a 5-4 win.

The Bruins got early goals from Phil Kessel and Blake Wheeler (in his debut; welcome aboard, kid!), but the Avalanche's high-flying style got to Tim Thomas, and the B's trailed 3-2 midway through the second. Marc Savard's power play goal at 10:43, with a welcome happy assist from the returning Patrice Bergeron, tied it, then the B's took the lead early in the third off another Boston n00b, Michael Ryder. Colorado tied it, but David Krejci redirected an errant Chuck Kobasew shot past Peter Budaj for the game-winner. Thomas wound up with 35 saves: just another day at the office.

The Red Sox, you might know, start the ALCS tonight in Tampa Bay, with Daisuke Matsuzaka getting the start. Improbably, Dice got only one decision against the Rays this year (didn't we play them about 115 times?), a 13-5 win at Tropicana on 9/15. His other two starts (7/2 and 9/9) were losses that got charged to the bullpen. Part of his charmed 2008. The Phillies got the better of Derek Lowe last night, as Chase Utley and Pat Burrell homered in the 6th for a 3-2 Game One win.

If you've already read everything else on the Internet, there's always the ShaughnessyBot's inevitable column about Tampa Bay sports history, which he slaved over for ten or fifteen minutes. But you could read Adam Kilgore's piece on Tropicana Field, which is interesting and informative. Steve Buckley goes out on a limb and says that the Red Sox approach October with a different mindset than they did four or 84 years ago.

Photo by David Zalubowski/AP.