The set-up: The Carolina Hurricanes went 36-31-15 last season (seventh in the Metropolitan Division). missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for an eighth consecutive year (last postseason was back in 2009!). The 2017-18 season began Wednesday but Carolina plays for the first time this season tonight, when it hosts the Minnesota Wild, who opened with a 4-2 loss at Detroit on Thursday. The Wild were 49-25-8 last season with their 106 points second in the West to only the Blackhawks' 109. However, Minnesota was bumped from the playoffs in its first series, 4-1 by St. Louis.

Minnesota: The Wild had two, first-period scores disallowed by goaltender interference and while they tied the game with two third-period scores, gave up two goals in 23 seconds to fall 4-2. Zach Parise missed Minnesota's loss on Thursday with a back injury. It's the 64th game he has sat out since signing a 13-year, $98 million contract prior to the 2012-13 season. He won't play Saturday, either. "You want to go in without nursing something," Parise told the Pioneer Press. "I want to go in and not have that stuff be at the top of my mind - just go in and relax and play - and that's what I'm shooting toward." The Wild were one of five teams to finish in the top-10 on the power play and short-handed last season but were 0-for-4 with a man advantage and killed 3-of-5 penalties on Thursday.

Carolina: Not sure we should expect Carolina to end its eight-year playoff drought this season, as the team begins what marks the 20th anniversary season of the Hurricanes franchise relocation to North Carolina from Hartford, Ct. However, acquisitions such as Justin Williams and goaltender Scott Darling could make a difference. Williams won his first Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006 before hoisting two more with Los Angeles, told reporters. "You always want to be a part of that and my role on this team will be an important one." Darling was brought aboard to be the No. 1 goalie as Cam Ward is expected to serve as the backup. Carolina will also be counting on 22-year-old center Elias Lindholm, who increased his assist total in each of the last three seasons and recorded a team-most 34 in 2016-17. The Hurricanes also boast a strong top-four defensive corps with Justin Faulk, Noah Hanifin, Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin, providing hope for a club that was challenged offensively with only two players scoring more than 17 goals in 2016-17.

The pick: Carolina was one of the NHL's lowest-scoring teams last season and Minneosta one of its best defensive teams. Make the Under an 8* play.