The Detroit Red Wings are about to raise another Stanley Cup banner to the crowded rafters at Joe Louis Arena.

They will take the ice tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs for the start of what should be an entertaining and successful season.

Just in time.

Detroit sports fans need an emotional lift after being disappointed by the underachieving Tigers, disgusted with the lowly Lions and discouraged by the start of the Rich Rodriguez era at Michigan.

The Red Wings can't fix the woes of those teams of course, but they can make it a little easier to pick up the newspaper, check out sports-related Web sites or watch TV highlights.

Detroit had the top hockey team by far during the last regular season and proved to be best in the playoffs, beating the Penguins in six game and hoisting the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in 11 seasons.

Then, the storied franchise lured one of the best players away from the runner-up Penguins (Marian Hossa), signed the Penguins' backup goaltender (Ty Conklin) and did enough to keep key skaters such as defenseman Brad Stuart and forward Valtteri Filppula.

Blackhawks

Left winger Ben Eager was suspended for three games without pay by the NHL for swinging his stick at Dallas Stars left winger Sean Avery in an exhibition game last week. Eager was sitting on the bench in the third period when he tried to swing his stick in the direction of Avery, who was on the ice.

Flyers

Sarah Palin's next faceoff will come at center ice at an NHL arena, not at a debate. The GOP vice presidential nominee will drop the ceremonial first puck Saturday when Philadelphia opens the regular season against the New York Rangers.