UPDATE: This was posted on the N&O site this morning after the skate but because of blog problems was not on CanesNow.
The Canes will be without defenseman Joni Pitkanen tonight in the season-opener against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Canes coach Paul Maurice said Pitkanen, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Sept. 10, would be held out of the game and replaced by Jay Harrison. Pitkanen will travel with the team to Boston for Saturday's game against the Bruins, and a decision made tomorrow morning on whether he will play.
It's possible Pitkanen, who led the Canes in average ice time per game last season, won't play his first game until Tuesday, when the Canes host the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Pitkanen missed nearly all of preseason training camp after the surgery to repair a cartilage tear. He returned to practice this week and was involved in three days of workouts before the decision was made at today's morning skate at the RBC Center.
"It's not the injury," Maurice said. "It's getting his hands and the feel and all the things that go into playing a game."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at