Hey, hey. It's Tuesday.

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny again. High 84, low 60.

🎂 Happy birthday to our members Natalie Holland and Robert Schmedding!

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Today’s newsletter is 743 words — a 3-minute read.

The NHL season begins tonight in Raleigh, with the Carolina Hurricanes back from a short summer to raise a championship banner and begin their title defense.

Driving the news: The Canes' eight straight years of playoff success have driven up ticket prices at Lenovo Center.

• Taking a family of four to a home game this year is expected to cost $819, according to a new Canada Sports Betting analysis.

Broken down, that includes:

• 🎟️ $723 for four tickets
• 🍻 $22 for two beers
• 🥤 $13 for two sodas
• 🌭 $27 for four hot dogs
• 🅿️ $34 for parking

State of play: Carolina ranks as the 12th most expensive NHL arena. It's the priciest in the South.

• Yes, but: Still about $400 cheaper than a Carolina Panthers game.
• Seeing the Montreal Canadiens at home is most expensive, with the same package running about $1,135.
• Get off a bit easier in Ottawa. Senators games cost about $516 for the family.

What's next: The puck drops at 5pm against the Florida Panthers.

💍 Take a look at the team's championship rings

Downtown Raleigh's famous — or infamous depending on who you ask — circular hotel reopens to the public this week.

Why it matters: Once set to be demolished, the former Holiday Inn will be reborn as Hotel Indigo on Thursday after getting more than $30 million in renovations.

Zoom in: The 204-room hotel has added a new ground-floor cafe and a top-floor cocktail bar called the High Ground Lounge.

• The bar will feature mid-century designs and include a small bites menu.
• Hotel rooms for opening night start around $300, but rooms are going for around $250 in November.

Jury selection began in the murder trial of a Durham man accused of killing UNC student Faith Hedgepeth in 2012. (News & Observer)

🌊 Northbound lanes of NC-12 are expected to reopen on the Outer Banks tomorrow after being closed from flooding. (WRAL)

🏥 WakeMed has been given the green light to expand its hospital campus in Cary. (Triangle Business Journal 🔒)

Raleigh and Durham have the same favorite dog breed: the golden retriever.

Why it matters: Golden retrievers are likely a familiar sight at the Triangle's many dog parks.

State of play: A new Rover report ranks the most popular and fastest-trending dog breeds in cities across the U.S.

Yes, but: The "reserved and wary" Boerboel is Raleigh's fastest-trending breed year over year, while the "territorial and deeply loyal" Mountain Cur takes that title in Durham.

Our thought bubble: Learning about our area's favorite breeds can be fun, but don't forget about the shelter dogs that need homes, too.

By the numbers: Raleigh also comes in as No. 94 and Durham as No. 97 on the list of top 107 U.S. cities for dog walking, based on Redfin walkability data.

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My 12-year-old soul dog, X, recently graduated from 25 weeks of chemo at CARE in Charlotte, nearly six months after being diagnosed with lymphoma.

Why it matters: X has been in remission since his second week of treatment. While remission isn't a cure, chemo has given me more quality time with my best boy.

Catch up quick: I woke up one night in February with X standing over me. When I reached up to pet him, I felt golf ball-sized lymph nodes under his neck.

• Was he trying to tell me he needed my attention? I like to think so.
• At the vet the next morning, we learned I'd caught the cancer extremely early.

Zoom in: X mostly sailed through treatment. He kept his hair! He also loved his vet tech Aimee, whom he recognized and happily followed to the back each visit.

• I was in Durham with the Axios Raleigh team during his final treatment, so my friend Stacia took him and sent me his graduation photos in real time. I cried happy tears, of course.

What's next: I'll continue to fatten up my too-skinny dog, celebrate the happy things and appreciate every snuggle.

🚊 Zachery was impressed by his first ride on MARTA.

🐼 Mary Helen is bummed she won't get to see Zoo Atlanta's new pandas while in town.

Thanks to Melissa Oyler for editing this newsletter.