For most looking in on the preseason opener, the main attraction of Tuesday night’s game was the first NHL-level appearance from second overall draft pick Andrei Svechnikov, who is expected to break camp with the Canes and be a critical piece in enhancing what has been a stale offensive club for a number of years. Canes fans were not disappointed in the team, or in Svechnikov, as he produced a goal and an assist in his NHL preseason debut as the Hurricanes toppled the Tampa Bay Lightning by a 4-1 score.
The Canes were able to get the season going in style as Michal Cajkovsky, in camp on a tryout basis, slipped one through traffic and past Andrei Vasilevskiy just over four minutes into the game.