Canes eager for shot

Red Wings visit Raleigh tonight

RALEIGH -- Playing three games in four days is taxing for any NHL team, at any point of the season, especially when the third game is against the Detroit Red Wings.

That's taxing enough, regardless of where the game falls on the schedule.

Then again, facing the defending Stanley Cup champions can provide just the right jolt of adrenaline. Another plus: playing the Red Wings coming off back-to-back wins.

Such is the case for the Carolina Hurricanes, who get their only shot at the Red Wings in the regular season tonight at the RBC Center. The Canes, playing their third game in four days, are 2-0-0 after comeback wins over the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

"You're always excited to play teams like that," center Eric Staal said Sunday. "Obviously, with them winning the Cup last year, we're going to have to be at our best from the opening faceoff.

"Hopefully we can build off these two wins, make sure we come out with that energy and passion we had in the third periods and carry it over.''

The Canes, who will wear their new black uniforms tonight, got off to indifferent starts in the season opener against the Panthers on Friday and then Saturday against the Lightning. Carolina trailed Florida 2-0 early in the game at the RBC Center but rallied for a 6-4 win with a strong third period.

At Tampa Bay, the Lighting led 3-0 late in the second period before a Rod Brind'Amour goal in the final seconds of the period got the Canes rolling again. Goals by Matt Cullen and Staal tied it 3-3 in a blistering third-period surge --the Canes outshot the Lightning 20-2 in the period -- and Staal won it with an overtime goal to silence Bolts fans at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"That's when we're at our best, when we're on the attack," Canes coach Peter Laviolette said. "It's offense first."

That attacking mentality was successful in the first two games. But give up a 2-0 or 3-0 lead to the Red Wings?

"You definitely don't want go down by three against the Red Wings," Laviolette said. "Just be prepared to play the game.

"We know what we're up against -- they're the Stanley Cup champions, they've set the bar here in the league."

Brind'Amour did not take part in practice Sunday at the RBC Center, but Laviolette said it was precautionary. The team captain has logged more than 38 minutes total in the first two games -- hardly a heavy workload for him, but enough for a player coming off knee surgery a month ago.

Staal said facing the Red Wings, who rallied for a 3-2 win Saturday over the Senators at Ottawa on Johan Franzen's late goal, should be a good way of gauging where the Canes stand, albeit without injured forwards Justin Williams and Scott Walker.

"They're impressive in their ability to control the puck," he said. "Their defensemen are real good at going back, getting pucks, hanging on to them or making plays, and moving the puck to their forwards.

"They play a style of keep-away, almost. We'll have to have a strong skating game and energy to be successful. It will be a good test for us."

The Wings have five players who have won four Stanley Cups. They're experienced, they're deep, and they believe in themselves.

"They're a strong hockey club and the champions," Canes defenseman Tim Gleason said. "We're at home, with the fans behind us.

"We respect them. But at the same time, we want them to respect us and that we're coming to play."