The captain wants to play, play, play

Three games, four nights. That's stressful for any NHL player, much less one who's 38 and coming off two knee surgeries.

But Canes captain Rod Brind'Amour said he's ready for it and wants it. After tonight's opener against Florida, the Canes are at Tampa Bay tomorrow night and then back home Monday for the Detroit Red Wings.

"I'm here to play," Brind'Amour said today. "I told (coach Peter Laviolette) to just play me like he normally would. Hopefully I'll be good enough that he wants to keep putting me out there."

Brind'Amour missed the last 22 games last season after reconstructive knee surgery and then had additional surgery last month to repair a cartilage tear.

While he wants to play major minutes, Brind'Amour said he realizes he must be cautious.

"I don't feel I'm where I want to be but I need to get there," he said. "The only way to do that is to get out there and do your thing.

"Once you get out there ... and it depends on how the game is going, too, you have to block everything out and go play. That's what I'm going to try to do. My game is not where I want it to be and I have to get it there fast."

Laviolette said he would monitor Brind'Amour's minutes and there is concern about the knee.

"I think you're always concerned," he said. "He's coming major (reconstruction) and he didn't get a chance to play in training camp. It's something we'll keep an eye on.

"He doesn't have to play 25 minutes to be a great player for us. We've got good depth at his position and a lot of guys who can play in a lot of different situations."