Canes can't play from behind against Wings

The Carolina Hurricanes don't want to find themselves down against the Detroit Red Wings — the defending Stanley Cup champions — Monday night at the RBC Center.

They've rallied late in the first two games this season and are fortunate to be 2-0.

"A win's a win, and they don't really ask how," said Carolina goalie Cam Ward after Sunday morning practice. "They ask how many. But by no means were they the smoothest wins."

A win would make them 3-0 heading into a two-week, six-game road trip.

"We've been down in a hole early, and I assure you that's not what we want to do against a team like Detroit that's very strong defensively," Ward said. "If we get down like we have, there's a very good possibility that they could play strong defense and make it a lot tougher to get out of the hole."

Coach Peter Laviolette said the Red Wings will be a real test.

"We definitely don't want to do what we did last night, that's for sure," said Laviolette, referencing the Canes going down 3-0 against Tampa Bay before rallying for the overtime win. "I think the most important thing is to just come out and play a strong game. They score first, we score first. That doesn't matter.

"We definitely don't want to go down by three against the Red Wings. ... Know what we're up against. They're the Stanley Cup champions. They set the bar here in the league. We're going to have a real strong game on both ends of the ice. "

It's Carolina's only regular-season test against Detroit, a team many experts expect big things from this year.

"They're proven to be the best team in the league," Laviolette said. "They did it all through the regular season and the playoffs. It is nice to play a team like this and go out there and take a shot at them.

"I wouldn't say if we win the game that we're the best team in the league. And I wouldn't say if we lost the game that there's no way we're ever going to win again. But it is an opportunity to play a very good hockey team, and to go out and compete against them and get a win."

Ward also said that the team is excited to make its debut in the new black sweaters.

"Hopefully we can start a winning trend with the jerseys," Ward said.