New Canes players eager

RALEIGH -- Andrew Alberts expects to be running into some old friends the next few days.

Or to be more accurate, skating and banging into them.

When the Carolina Hurricanes open the season tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers, Alberts will be facing a team he played for -- and banged for -- last season. The Canes defenseman, a free-agent signee in the offseason, was neighbors with Flyers defenseman Matt Carle, and the two planned to have dinner Thursday night.

But the niceties end tonight -- for Alberts and everyone else in a Carolina sweater. The Hurricanes believe they have the right mix of talent, savvy, size, depth and experience to contend for a Stanley Cup, and they should get a quick early gauge against the Flyers and then at Boston on Saturday.

Alberts also played for Boston for three seasons before being traded to Philadelphia last October. "It's always different playing against your old buddies," Alberts said. "But it's fun to be here in Carolina on opening night. Carolina has always had good fans. We've had a good week of practice, and I'm excited just to play my first game."

The Flyers, in the offseason, obtained All-Star defenseman Chris Pronger from Anaheim and awarded him a seven-year contract. Alberts, in turn, signed with the Canes.

"We had talks, but things just didn't work out," Alberts said. "So no bad feelings towards them. But it would be nice, obviously, to get a 'W' against those guys."

Alberts is one of seven players who weren't in the Carolina organization on opening night last year. The Canes traded for forward Jussi Jokinen in February and then brought back winger Erik Cole from Edmonton on the March trade deadline.

Defenseman Aaron Ward returned for a second stint with Carolina in an offseason trade with the Bruins. Alberts, forwards Stephane Yelle and Tom Kostopoulos, and defenseman Jay Harrison were signed.

With the Canes re-signing Cole and Chad LaRose, both unrestricted free agents, they believe they have everything in place for another run at the Cup.

"We feel we've got a pretty good mesh," center Eric Staal said.

There's still uncertainty about defenseman Joni Pitkanen, who had knee surgery Sept. 10. Pitkanen practiced this week, but a decision on his availability won't be known until after today's morning skate, Canes coach Paul Maurice said.

"The injury is fine," Maurice said. "The question is has he practiced enough to get into full-tilt, back-to-back games."

On Thursday, the anticipation of opening night was palpable in the Canes' locker room.

"I've been ready to go for the last two months," forward Tuomo Ruutu said, smiling.

"It's always a big night," Cole added. "It's one of those games where you need to go out and play with controlled emotion and make sure you're using that energy in the right way."

In addition to the new players in the room, there's also another face that wasn't with the Canes on opening night last October: Maurice. He was brought back in early December, after Peter Laviolette was fired as coach. Like the players, he's ready to kick off a new season.

"The last couple of days of practice there's always a certain kind of tension -- you know it's coming," Maurice said Thursday. "These guys are practiced out. They need to get in a competitive game, and I think the coaches feel the same way, too.

"You get antsy and nervous. You really are looking forward to that puck dropping, because it means something."