Either way, the Hurricanes are excited to get started.

“They were playing for something at the end of the season,” Necas said. “We weren’t, so we’re really pumped up to do that again. It’s a whole new season.”

Paths, crossed

Brind’Amour and Islanders coach Patrick Roy played together on the 1998 Canadian Olympic team that lost to Dominik Hasek and the Czech Republic in the semifinals and failed to medal. Brind’Amour said Saturday that Roy told him, earlier in the Olympics, that Brind’Amour should be in Canada’s shootout rotation after scoring on him in practice.

“I remember scoring on him in practice, and then him saying after one time I should be in the shootout in the Olympics because I scored on him,” Brind’Amour said. “I remember that. He won’t remember that but I do.”

Canada went on to lose in a five-round shootout to the Czechs, 1-0, when no one could score on Hasek. Neither Brind’Amour nor Wayne Gretzky was picked for an attempt.

Tailwinds

Dobson returned to the Isles’ lineup after missing two games but center Jean-Gabriel Pageau was absent after being injured in the Islanders’ final game of the season. ... Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns has played the second-most regular-season games (1,415) without winning a Stanley Cup of any player in the postseason. Only Dallas Stars defenseman Ryan Suter (1,444) has been waiting longer. ... N.C. State women’s basketball guard Zoe Brooks was the Game 1 siren sounder.

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