Yep, hockey is indeed back.

The Rangers and Hurricanes brought some immediate excitement to Saturday afternoon's Stanley Cup Qualifier, the first official game of the NHL' Dmitry Kulikov Jersey s restart. Carolina's Jaccob Slavinscored one minute Marian Gaborik Jersey and one second into the matchup after receiving a nice cro s-ice pa s fromTeuvo Teravainen.

(Fun fact: Slavin is the first player to score in Augustin NHLhistory.)

Johan Franzen Jersey Blink and you mi sed it! The waste no time and strike FIRST. : NBCSN:

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Then, le s than two minutes later,Justin Williams and Ryan Stromedecided to throw hands near New York's bench. So much for easing Stan Mikita Jersey back into things.

Think Willy is fired up?

If you wanted intenseaction on the ice, the Rangers and Hurricanes checked Jay Bouwmeester Jersey every box over the first 20 minutes. Just take a look atthe stats from theperiod:

Keep in mindRangers vs. Hurricanes is just the beginning of Saturday's five-game slate.