When the Hurricanes host the Tampa Bay Lightning in their home opener tonight, it’ll be the team’s first game at PNC Arena in nearly a year. And it’ll come a week later than planned, as Carolina saw its last four games postponed due to COVID issues.
The team won’t be playing in front of fans, and will be without Teuvo Teravainen, Warren Foegele, Jesper Fast, Jordan Martinook and Jaccob Slavin due to their placement on the NHL’s COVID protocol list. Still, the team knows it can’t make excuses and will need to shake the rust off quickly against the defending champs.