St. Louis Blues vs. Washington Capitals

Hockey season ended June 7 when the Washington Capitals victoriously hoisted the Stanley Cup. Barely three months later, the Capitals roll into town for a pre-season game against the St. Louis Blues, ending the interminable period between seasons. Pre-season games don't normally bring much excitement, but hockey is hockey. A couple of young guys trying to win permanent spots on each team's roster may fight and there's a chance for a surprising goal or two, but what you most want to see is complete lack of injuries. Certain Capitals players may not yet have sobered up from the summer-long celebration, so don't expect to see a lot of the big-name players playing regular-season minutes. The game starts at 7 p.m. at the Enterprise Center (1401 Clark Avenue; www.stlblues.com) and tickets are $8.10 to $144.