Because Otherwise It Would Have Been Unsporting

NHL returns Oct. 5 with busiest night ever: All 30 teams will be playing when league resumes after missed season:

Not wanting fans to have to wait one extra day to see their teams, the NHL has scheduled 15 games — including all 30 clubs — on opening night Oct. 5.

Because otherwise it would have been unsporting to schedule 15 games and only 29 teams. How the Atlanta Thrashers would have complained about their loss to the New York Rangers had they not actually played….