Rob Blake. (Advertisement).

With the preseason behind them, the Colorado Avalanche are poised to make another run at the Cup. But a few questions still remain. Can the club stay healthy? Will St. Patrick be able to have another stellar year between the pipes? Will the off-season moves help or hurt them? Do they have what it takes to bounce back from last year's inconceivable finish?

The ice is ready.

Let's drop the puck.

It took him 12 seasons before he had his day with the Stanley Cup in his hometown of Simcoe, Ontario. The oft-honored defenseman achieved what so many hockey players dream of when he and the Colorado Avalanche won it all in 2001. It was his first year with the team and now that he's tasted success at the highest level, nothing but another Cup will do.

So as another season gets underway, you can expect big things out of this guy, starting with some more of his trademark big hits. As it is every year, NHL FaceOff" 2003 is packed with thunderous checks. And not too many players hit harder than Blake. But we all know by now that he's no thug. He's a smart, agile player--characteristics that are very accurately depicted in this year's game. Fast gameplay and tight, instinctive play-controls return once again as players battle it out every game on the long road to the Stanley Cup.

One of the biggest changes that Blake and every other player will notice this year in NHL FaceOff 2003 is in its new presentation engine. Every game will have the feeling of playoff hockey as a new level of emotion and intensity is delivered. Pre-game warm-ups and walks through the tunnel get the guys pumped up and ready for action. During the game, players pushing and shoving between whistles, banter from the penalty box and plenty of post-game celebrations keep the intensity at an all-time high.

As they begin the 82-game regular season march toward the playoffs, one of the advantages that Rob Blake and the Avalanche have over the rest of the league is that they return all but a few members of last season's team. But they did make a few off-season roster moves. This is where Career Mode came in to play. With this feature, anyone can assume the ...