The interesting thing about watching hockey is that the fans are every bit as rabid, devoted and loud as those found at NFL and NBA games. If you are an outsider to this sport, you might not understand the passion hockey fans have for their particular team; however, for those that watch the sport with regularity (include those fans that never miss a game), there is precious little as exciting as the start of the season. And the season has certainly started with a bang! Here are the three teams I am watching so far:

Buffalo Sabres
The big story for the Buffalo Sabres has a name: Ryan Miller. The organization is boasting one of the best goalies in the league this season in Miller. With 0.98 goals-against average, .955 save percentage and a 2-0-1 records following three starts, USA Today lists Miller as the top goalie in their biweekly power rankings.

The Sabres’ general manager, Darcy Regier, has said that it is the combination of Miller’s staunch stance on perfecting his craft in the sport, with an intense focus on goaltending, and his willingness to work hard, propels him forward as one of the sport’s top players.

The Sabres team is looking good and will have to fight tooth-and-nail for a playoff spot; however, with the team currently have in place, the chances are good. It should be noted that they won a spot in the playoffs last season, only to have Miller injure his ankle, causing the team to miss the postseason.

However, if the team does well this season and Miller continues to shine, he will also have a shot of making Team USA at the Vancouver Olympic Games.

Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes fans and sports analysts alike had high hopes for this team, heading into the 2009-10 season. However, the team has shown a great deal of inconsistency that might prove to be its downfall as the season progresses. While team is 2-3, which isn’t a horrible place to be, there have been more downs than ups and combined with a tough schedule, this doesn’t bode well for die-hard fans or the Hurricanes organization.

The team lost its first two games, with the first being a shut-out, thanks to the Philadelphia Flyers. It came back (though barely) for its third game against Tampa Bay and fourth game against the Florida Panthers. Then, Tampa Bay came knocking for revenge and the Hurricanes one again gave in to mediocrity in their third loss of the season.

It is worth noting that only four power play goals have been scored in the face of many, many chances, which is almost an exact repeat of last year. This team is going to have to tighten up and regain some focus if there is to be any improvement this season.

Calgary Flames
When the Calgary Flames played the Chicago Blackhawks, I am sure many Chicago fans thought the game to be almost poetic. After all, the Flames had scored five goals scored IN A ROW. The Chicago fans were rooted to their seats, unable to believe the Flames were dominating so boldly.

And then, out of nowhere, there Blackhawks took back the crowd – and the game, coming back to overpower the Flames with a victory in overtime. This really was one for the record books (Chicago set the record for the biggest comeback in franchise history), but in a not-so-favorable way for Calgary.

The team is feeling a tad disheartened and rightfully so. They fell again, this time to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the next night. Flames head coach Brent Sutter went on the record to say: “It's unacceptable the way we're playing.”

Not only is this unacceptable, but it is also a somewhat surprising, given the strong start of the team as the opened the season winning four games straight. It also doesn’t help that team captain Jarome Iginla has had a less-than-stellar start to the season, as well, racking up one assist on an empty-net goal, and four minutes in penalties. Like many, I had high hopes for this team this season, but I am not quite as convinced; they seem as though they might be coming apart at the seams, a bit.