Building on the support for winter sports in China since Beijing won the 2022 Olympics, the NHL is showcasing two preseason games in an attempt to break into a market and country unfamiliar with hockey.
Playing the first NHL game in China, the crowd in Shanghai couldn’t have been treated to a more fast-paced, physical show in the Los Angeles Kings’ 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. The game was filled with a combined 17 power-play opportunities and 57 shots on goal.
The players were uncertain of the reception, but the crowd proved immediately receptive to the action on the ice.