Fast-forward four months from the Eastern Conference Finals – and your Carolina Hurricanes are back on the ice.
Monday night marked the Canes’ preseason opener, as they welcomed the Tampa Bay Lightning to Raleigh. Tampa Bay watched its season end in the First Round last year – and hoped for better fortunes inside the Lenovo Center.
Carolina found the back of the net Monday night, but just once, losing a 2-1 contest to the visiting Lightning.
As is customary with early preseason games, the Canes who laced up Monday night were primarily younger – and fighting for NHL roster spots – such as 2023 first-round pick https://sportscarolinamonthly.com/nadeau-leads-10-canes-picks-at-wednesdays-nhl-draft/.
2025 midseason acquisition Logan Stankoven, whom Carolina signed to a lucrative extension in July, scored his team’s lone goal. With just over four minutes left in the game, Stankoven tipped in a wrist shot from the point, sending his teammates into celebration.
Kevin Labanc and Alexander Nikishin, the latter of whom the Canes see as a franchise cornerstone, assisted on Stankoven’s tally.
Cayden Primeau, whom Carolina acquired in a June trade for goaltending depth, saved 18 of the 20 shots he faced.
The Caneso return to action Wednesday against the Florida Panthers, hosting the defending Stanley Cup Champions for a 6 p.m. faceoff.
If you missed hockey all summer, good news: it’s finally back. Is this the year Carolina finally acquires a second Stanley Cup Title?
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