Quick take on the Rangers-Lightning game in the Czech Republic and the Penguins-Senators tilt in Sweden.

- The Blueshirts-Bolts matchup was kind of dull. That's not likely to impress fans of either club but I honestly didn't find it a very entertaining game.

Might've been the ice conditions, I'm not sure, but it just seemed to lack energy in long stretches, although the excitement level increased late in the game when the Rangers Brandon Dubinsky scored on a screen shot  to snap a one-all tie and ultimately proved to be the game winner.

The Czech fans seemed to sit on their hands throughout most of this, at least that's how it came across on television. That's not to say they weren't supportive but they certainly didn't have the noise factor of the Swedish fans.

At least the Rangers didn't scratch Czech winger Petr Prucha as rumored, perhaps over fear of a backlash?

Fellow Czech Michal Rozsival wasn't much of a standout on the Rangers blueline except an early first period giveaway that resulted in a good scoring chance by the Lightning.

I can't help but feel the fans would've been more into it had Czech stars Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka returned with the Rangers this season.

  Jagr is now playing for Avangard Omsk of the KHL after failing to reach a deal with the Rangers (and has 17 points in fourteen games thus far) while Straka was not signed as a UFA and is now playing in the Czech Extraliga.

Had Jagr been there I think the crowd would've been more involved.

Both teams headed into this game and this season with concerns over their respective defensive games and it was obvious after this match the Bolts have work to do in that regard, especially their discipline.

Still, despite being outshot 41-21 the Lightning did make a game of it, and a positive note was the performance of goalie Mike Smith, who looked sharp and couldn't be blamed for his team's loss

- The Pens-Sens game, won 4-3 by Pittsburgh in overtime,  was a more spirited affair as both clubs played with more energy, and the Swedish fans certainly got into it, cheering on the Senators and their team captain, Swedish star Daniel Alfredsson. 

Nice ovation given to Mats Sundin, the all-time leading scorer amongst Swedish NHL players, who dropped the puck in a ceremonial faceoff, prompting the Hockey Night in Canada commentators to wonder if this was the last time we'll see Sundin on the ice this season.

Two significant points in this one: Martin Gerber's goaltending could continue to be an area of concern for the Senators, and the Penguins sorely miss injured blueliners Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney.

Gerber allowed in two softies, both off the stick of Penguins forward Tyler Kennedy which opened and closed the game's scoring, and at times seems rattled.

The absence of Gonchar and Whitney forced the Penguins  to press younger and lesser skilled blueliners into action  and their inexperience showed.

Still, one game does not an 82-game regular season make, so there's plenty of time for all four teams to address their weaknesses.