Pooh and Bother: Seattle Thunderbirds 4, Portland Winterhawks 1.

There must have been a curse last night: Because Ryan Johansen and the Columbus Blue Jackets also lost...to Pittsburgh. So maybe it wasn't so bad. My favorite NHL Draftee and my favorite team facing off against each other. Win, lose or draw, still a good game.

Monday is the new Saturday: Because tomorrow, the Portland Winterhawks play their first home game of the regular season against Vancouver, the team that took us down in the second round of the playoffs. With a few more NHL draftees en route back to Portland from training camp and the home ice advantage, we stand a much better chance.

But major bummer alert: Ian Curtis, the goalie who figured Vancouver out and shut them down last year, is down with an injury until at least October.

On the upside: Captain Brett Ponich is on his way back from St. Louis Blues' training camp. Ditto for all-around troublemaker Brad Ross, who was sent back to us from Toronto and Riley Boychuk, who's on the way back from Buffalo. We are still waiting word on Ryan Johansen, Oliver Gabriel and Nino Niederreiter and whether Luke Walker will stay with Colorado's AHL team, where he has been assigned for now.

And if you want to know what else I've been up to in the past 48 hours, you can check it out here: www.oregonlive.com/hawks.

Of course, there's plenty of NHL action on about town: Like say, the Edmonton Oilers, with little goal scoring genius Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall in tow, cooked Vancouver 8 - 2. That's right. The future is now and it lives in Edmonton. For tonight anyway. Personally, I'm in for Eberle being the next Matt Duchene...steady, quiet, smart and awesome. And I predict he will quietly steal the thunder now and again from this year's number one draft pick.

So, if Edmonton can blow past my bet for this year's Stanley Cup: Then surely the Winterhawks can pick up their game after Saturday's loss and bring us a nice little victory at home. Game on and if you live in Portland, I'll see you there.