The Canes' game at Tampa Bay on Saturday was postponed due to Hurricane Milton

Friday's Carolina Hurricanes game at the Lenovo Center brings the usual anticipation of the start of a new season – this time with hurricane victims in North Carolina and Florida at the forefront.

The Canes' opponent, the Tampa Bay Lightning, are fighting for a hometown hit by another hurricane. The Canes' game on Saturday at Amalie Arena in Tampa was postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Milton.

On Thursday night, Hurricane Milton became the third hurricane to hit Florida this year, weeks after Hurricane Helene, which also devastated North Carolina.

The season opener on Friday brings with it a number of interesting coincidences. The Lightning left Tampa earlier than planned on Wednesday due to an approaching hurricane to play the Hurricanes in a state still feeling the effects of a devastating, separate hurricane.

North Carolina was spared from Milton, but Canes players feel bad for their Florida opponents – and for their neighbors in western North Carolina, who are struggling to leave Helene behind.

“It's kind of ironic that we're playing Tampa tomorrow night,” Hurricanes player Jordan Martinook said. “So they're two teams whose states have been hit pretty hard by this … and obviously we want to play well for our state and show where we're at with all of our guys, and they'll probably do the same thing.”

Hurricanes player Jaccob Slavin said it was impossible not to think about the suffering.

“We sit here and play hockey for a living, and there are people out there fighting for power, for water, for food, and that's in our home state and of course throughout the Southeast,” Slavin said. “It’s definitely tough and our prayers and our thoughts are with all of these families.”

Last week, the Hurricanes raised more than $300,000 for Helene victims during a sold-out preseason game.

“I know our owners have already donated a lot of money, and that's why we can do what we can with our resources and help people in need now, whether it's with basic needs (or just helping where we can),” Slavin said .

“I think anything we can do as an organization and as players to raise money for the people who are struggling right now and trying to rebuild their lives is the best thing we can do and it's just that “Right ones,” Martinook said.

Martinook believes sports are healing for players and fans.

“I feel like people can find relief in sports in times of sadness,” he said. “Hopefully we can do that tomorrow night and raise some money at the same time.”

“It separates reality from what's going on in the real world and you can walk away for a few hours and not think about what's going on,” coach Rod Brind'Amour added. “And it also unites a lot of people who have differences of opinion, whether political or … regarding universities. Everyone cheers for different teams, but they cheer for us, and it can somehow bring people together. Hopefully it'll make a difference.”

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said he was unsure if his team would play the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Amalie Arena in Tampa.

The puck drops for the Canes' regular season opener on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Lenovo Center.

The team was scheduled to play Saturday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. WRAL News learned Thursday that the game has been postponed. A rescheduled date is expected to be announced at a later date.