Jordan Staal slowly glided to center ice and got in position opposite Detroit’s new captain Dylan Larkin, ready for the opening draw in Little Caesars Arena on the eve of the Carolina Hurricanes’ season opener.
As Canes fans tuned in for the start of the game, a familiar voice welcomed them in. However, it wasn’t the usual play-by-play voice, but instead that of the former sideline reporter, Mike Maniscalco.
While Maniscalco had called games for the team when the NHL returned to play last year, he didn’t view that opportunity as an official thing.
“I’ve had experience, but it was just filling in,” Maniscalco said about calling the games in the bubble during the contract dispute between the Hurricanes and John Forslund.