Preview: October 2 vs. Washington

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Carolina Hurricanes eye their first win of the season on Friday as they host the Washington Capitals at Lenovo Center.

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When: Friday, Oct. 2

Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. ET

Watch: Hurricanes Hockey Network; WRAL (Raleigh), WAXN (Charlotte)| How To Watch

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

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Canes Record: 0-0-1 (1 Point, 2nd, Metropolitan Division)

Canes Last Game: 1-0 OT Loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, Sept. 29

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Capitals Record: 0-0-0 (0 Points, T-7th, Metropolitan Division)

Capitals Last Game: N/A

Last Time Out...

• The two most recent Stanley Cup Champions went toe-to-toe on Tuesday night at Lenovo Center, needing nearly 65 minutes for either side to find the twine. In the end, it was Gustav Forsling's point blast that found a home with just 4.3 seconds remaining in overtime.
• Brandon Bussi was perfect to that point for Carolina, turning in a commendable 19 saves.

Shaking Off The Rust...

• Rod Brind'Amour's synopsis of his team's outing on Tuesday was that they did not adequately handle the pressure applied by Florida. Crediting them for being the good team that they are, he mentioned that style of game just can't be replicated in practice or preseason.
• The silver lining is that Carolina was right there with the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Champions, and it came down to one shot in overtime. More game reps will only help the team hone their sharpness, something in which they should have an edge over tonight's foe, given that Washington has yet to play a game this season.

Taking That Step Forward...

• On the positive side of the coin, Carolina's penalty kill went seven-for-seven in the season-opener, holding a potent Panthers power play off the board.
• The other side of the coin, unfortunately, reveals that Carolina's power play went zero-for-six themselves. Players talked about the need to execute better post-game, knowing that failing to capitalize in advantageous situations such as that will cost them games at any point in the season.

In Net...

• At Thursday's practice at Lane Arena, Pyotr Kochetkov manned the crease commonly held by the next game's starter.
• Kochetkov is looking to get back on track after missing most of the last year with lower-body injuries. Now healthy, he was rewarded with a two-year contract extension last week and is eager to earn his share of the responsibilities with Bussi as the new campaign begins.
• With the club likely in need of both backstops as it begins a home-road back-to-back set tonight, should Kochetkov have the green light this against the Caps, Brandon Bussi would be in line to take on Philadelphia in the City of Brotherly Love on Saturday.

On The Other Side...

• The Capitals finally play their first game tonight after being idle through the first three days of the league's season.
• Looking to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a year away, their front office retooled Spencer Carbery's roster and added some big pieces. Boone Jenner came aboard from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Jordan Kyrou was acquired from the St. Louis Blues, and Alex Tuch joined from the Buffalo Sabres.
• Dealing with a lower-body injury for most of training camp, the league's all-time leading goal-scorer, Alex Ovechkin, is expected to be good to go tonight.

Injury Updates

• Forward Seth Jarvis is practicing in a yellow, no-contact jersey after offseason shoulder surgery. He was initially scheduled to miss "probably four to six months" from the end of June.

What Are We Wearing?

• The Canes are scheduled to wear their red uniforms.

What's Next After This Game?

• The Canes will fly to Philadelphia post-game. They'll take on the Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday to complete the back-to-back set.
• Next Game: Saturday, October 3 at Philadelphia | 7:00 p.m. ET | Hurricanes Hockey Network