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 couldnB次元官网网址檛 have been treated to a more fast-paced, physical show in the Los Angeles KingsB次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淥bviously you wanted to put on a show for the fans here and they got to see some goals, too,B次元官网网址� said Vancouver forward Sven Baertschi, who scored the CanucksB次元官网网址� first goal.

The NHL offered a primer that featured team mascots before the game. An announcer came onto the ice to explain the finer points of the game as Fin (VancouverB次元官网网址檚 killer whale) and Bailey (Los AngelesB次元官网网址� lion) mimicked infractions such as charging, crosschecking, tripping and hooking.

A golden Chinese dragon came out next, held aloft on poles by seven skaters. A group of Chinese kids in hockey uniforms joined the NHL players during the Chinese national anthem.

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Even if hockey is relatively unknown in China and the rules remain somewhat of a mystery, the crowd appreciated the speed and collisions of the sport.

Every shot on goal was met with a loud cheer and each hard check against the walls was met with a collective B次元官网网址極oohB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址楢aah.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭o be honest, we didnB次元官网网址檛 know what to expect. We didnB次元官网网址檛 know the crowd, the noise, the atmosphere,B次元官网网址� said Los Angeles coach John Stevens. B次元官网网址淚 think the whole thing for me is weB次元官网网址檙e here to grow the game. ItB次元官网网址檚 my hope that the more they see it, the more people like it.B次元官网网址�

"We tried to play to the best of our abilities and put on a good show, but it's tough that we lost." reflects on the game in China.

B次元官网网址� Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks)

Tanner Pearson scored twice for the Kings and Alec Martinez and Jeff Carter each had a goal and an assist. Jonathan Quick made 31 saves.

Team allegiances were generally lacking during the game, with the exception of the Canadian flags and rowdy Canadian fans in the audience.

Spectator Inge Zhang, who was wearing a Miami Heat jersey with pink letters, admitted being more a fan of basketball than hockey. A media co-operation manager for the Shanghai Sharks basketball team, she was excited because sheB次元官网网址檇 heard Kobe Bryant might make an appearance.

B次元官网网址淪o we came here actually for Kobe Bryant,B次元官网网址� she said while her friend laughed. B次元官网网址淏ut I love this sport, too.B次元官网网址�

Bryant did make a brief appearance in a video message to support his hometown team, the Kings.

B次元官网网址淚 see more foreigners here tonight than Chinese, but I think there are still a lot of hockey fans in China,B次元官网网址� Zhang added. B次元官网网址淚 think the NHL should take this opportunity to grow the sport here.B次元官网网址�

ThatB次元官网网址檚 the plan now that the NHL has signed a contract to bring two preseason games to China for six of the next eight years. The Kings and Canucks play their second game in Beijing on Saturday.

B次元官网网址淭he effort here really is to build from the grassroots up, to try to grow the appreciation for the sport, the understanding of the sport,B次元官网网址� NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said before the game. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e certainly made the Chinese Ice Hockey Federation and the Chinese government aware that weB次元官网网址檙e willing to help any way we can as they gear up and prepare for the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games.B次元官网网址�

Despite the positive reaction of the fans to the first game in Shanghai, itB次元官网网址檚 just the first step in a long process.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great for China itself to see the NHL live and in-person, see the speed of the game, how good the players are,B次元官网网址� said Vancouver coach Travis Green. B次元官网网址淏ut whenever youB次元官网网址檙e bringing hockey to a new country, itB次元官网网址檚 going to take time. I think itB次元官网网址檚 great the NHL is committed to doing that.B次元官网网址�

Justin Bergman, The Associated Press

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