If the game is brand new, make sure that it is laying on a level floor, that the cord under the game is in its groove.  In shipping, a small protective piece of foam is under one side of the game that needs to be removed or it can cause the game to not lay flat. Make sure to firmly press down on each side of the game to make sure it lies down flat.  Confirm that the band holders are on correctly.
In some cases, the seams at the center are a little tight, and the puck may click slightly as it crosses the center. This is usually not an issue and it is normal to hear a slight click.