Wild Warmup: Minnesota at Carolina

The essentials

The opponent

The Carolina Hurricanes will open their 2017-18 regular season on Saturday, becoming one of the final two NHL teams to do so (Vancouver). Two days ago, the Hurricanes named Minnesota native Justin Faulk and Jordan Staal -- brother of Wild forward Eric -- as this season's co-captains. It's the first time in franchise history Carolina will have two players wearing the 'C' on their jersey, although they have a unique twist: Faulk will wear the patch in home games while Staal will wear it when Carolina is on the road.
"We've given this a lot of thought as an organization, myself as a coach and my coaching staff," Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters told the team's website. "It's a special honor and a proud day for them."

Connections

• Wild forward Matt Cullen won the 2006 Stanley Cup with Carolina and skated in 266 games in parts of four seasons (2005-06, 2007-10).
• Wild forward Eric Staal was drafted by Carolina in the first round (2nd overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and collected 775 points (322- 453=775) and 678 penalty minutes in 909 games in 12 seasons (2003-16). He ranks first on the Hurricanes all-time list in short-handed goals (16) and shots (3,033), second in goals, power-play goals (105), game-winning goals (47), assists and points and ranks third in games played.

• Faulk is a native of South St. Paul and played collegiately at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Carolina on my mind

Minnesota has earned points in five of its last six games (3-1-2) in Carolina, with four of those contests going past regulation -- one decided in overtime and three in a shootout. Overall, the Wild has points in 11 of its last 14 games (9-3-2) against the Hurricanes since Dec. 23, 2008.