Ready for Opening Night

Talking with the Hurricanes' players today, especially those not with the team this time last year, it was easy to detect their excitement, their anxiousness to get a new season started.

"You want to start off on the right foot, on opening night," said forward Patrick Eaves, who began last season with the Ottawa Senators. "You've got to almost keep yourself emotionally in control because you're so amped up."

But what about the man behind the bench? What about Peter Laviolette, now in his fifth season as coach of the Canes?

"It's always special," Laviolette said Thursday. "You put a lot of work into training camp. I've got tremendous coaches and coaching staff that helps prepare this team. I think even with the injuries in camp, we got everything we needed to get in as a starting point.

"Every year I think is different, no matter what year it is. Whether you've won or you lost or you changed your lineup, I think there's always an excitement at the beginning of camp. I think the guys are looking forward to it. There are some new faces and it's an opportunity for some and a change of venue, a change of scenery.

"We've had enough of the summer. I think it's time to turn that page and everybody be excited about what's in front of us, and that's Opening Night."