For many local sports fans, ACC tournament week is the official transition out of Carolina Hurricanes hockey season. The local media all disappears for the weekend and when the Hurricanes are out of the playoff hunt, they never really return. And for fans, a couple weeks of peak basketball excitement is enough to gradually leave Hurricanes hockey. And from that point forward, the small number of die hards ride out the remainder of the season looking for cause for optimism for next year.
But as I watch the NCAA tournament brackets being announced on March 17, the Hurricanes season is anything but over.
Simple math puts the Hurricanes in the first of two wild card slots in the Eastern Conference. When one adjusts for games in hand, the picture looks even brighter.
With 11 games remaining, the Hurricanes control their own destiny in terms of returning to the playoffs. But the team also has a couple treacherous stretches of schedule and a tiny margin for error such that even a short burst of losing could doom playoff hopes.
The key for the team right now is simply to keep pushing. After losses on Friday night on consecutive weeks, the team rebounded twice on Saturday. In doing so, the team just reached a full two months without losing consecutive games. The Hurricanes do not need to win out or do anything else spectacular. The Hurricanes simply need to keep winning at a reasonable pace. With the Canadiens faltering a bit late, something like 6-5 could be enough to win the last playoff spot especially if that 6-5 includes a win over the Canadiens on Sunday at PNC Arena.
The current version of the Hurricanes is good enough to do that. The team just needs to strike the right balance of loose and determined and avoid tightening up as the pressure mounts.
The schedule ahead
March 19 vs. Penguins — The battle for 3rd in the Metro
March 21 vs. Lightning — The ultimate measuring stick
March 23 vs. The Wild — Another battle against a hungry team
March 24 vs. Canadiens — A chance to kill the competition
March 26 at Capitals — Home and home to climb up the Metro standings
March 28 vs. Capitals — Part 2
March 30 vs. Flyers — Battling a spoiler
March 31 at Penguins — Still for 3rd in the Metro?
April 2 at Maple Leafs — Last of the gauntlet
April 4 vs. Devils — White knuckler against a spoiler?
April 6 at Flyers — The finale!
What say you Canes fans?
1) What record do you think it takes in the last 11 games to make the playoffs? What record do you think the Canes will achieve?
2) Which stretch(es) are most dangerous?
3) Who has the guts to take a shot at predicting W-L outcomes for all 11 remaining games?
Go Canes!
I think 6-5 is probably right, and even 5-6 MIGHT do it if we beat Montreal and they don’t get hot. This entire stretch of 11 games is dangerous. Honestly, we’ve generally played up to strong competition and been sluggish against inferior teams. The next 4 games are probably the most important because you’ve got a likely L against Tampa Bay and then games against Pit and Montreal.
I’ve got the team going 6-5.
March 19 vs. Penguins — W
March 21 vs. Lightning — L
March 23 vs. The Wild — W
March 24 vs. Canadiens — W
March 26 at Capitals — L
March 28 vs. Capitals — W
March 30 vs. Flyers — W
March 31 at Penguins — L
April 2 at Maple Leafs — L
April 4 vs. Devils — W
April 6 at Flyers — L
The team should be motivated through game 82 as they will likely be jockeying for playoff position those last two games. I also don’t see them letting off the gas this close, and Rod will be in their ear. 5-3-3 or 6-3-2 would net some OTL points that would be valuable.
The game against the Habs is big. They have had a hard time scoring lately but with Price they are still dangerous.
money puck, sports club stats, the athletic have the canes at about 95% chance of making the playoffs.
Two things I really like about our remaining schedule:
1. most are against good teams – we tend to play up better than playing down.
2. not many days between games – we (can I say we :)) play better when playing games in rhythm … the schedule has a nice rhythm to it…. no long periods off between games.
I really hope it doesn’t come down to the Philly game because being an “experienced” fan, my thought is we would lose that game…. HOWEVER>>>> that was the old experience…. long live the new experience!!!! 🙂
Go Canes!
19. Pens. The extra day of rest does not help the Canes. Canes OTL
21. Lightning. 3rd game in 4 nights for Tampa. Played in DC last night. Canes W
22. Wild. Eric Staal returns, watches the surge after the game, feels melancholy.
Canes W.
23. Montreal. Canes 4th game in 6 days. Montreal with 2 days rest is rusty. Canes B2B charm continues. Canes OTW. Storm surge has a French theme.
26. Caps. Canes 5th game in 8 days. Canes L
28. Caps. Canes earn split in a 9 round shoot out. Fleury scores the winning goal. Fans are too exhausted to stand up for the surge.
30. Flyers. Battle of wills. Canes pushing for 3rd in Metro. Flyers still hoping for 2nd wild card. Thrilling Canes W. Disappointed Flyer fans storm the ice hoping to interrupt the surge.
31. Pens. Pens rested and waiting. Weird 5pm start. Canes L
2. Leafs. Leafs played the Islanders last night. Canes W. Don Cheery leads a one man storm surge in a sequined “Bunch of Jerks” tuxedo in his Toronto studio.
4. Devils. Last home game of regular season. A sell out as well. Wildly enthusiastic crowd. Canes W. Tom Dundon and Don Waddell drive the Zamboni’s around the ice for the storm surge, while the team does the traditional stick wave to the crowd. TSN headline reads “Montreal in draft lottery.”
6. Flyers. The Canes, having clinched the first wild card slot and avoided a first round match up with Tampa take their foot off the gas. Canes L. Gritty refuses to take off the gloves against Stormy and is tarred and feathered by Flyer fans after the game.
On April 8th Canadian media still can’t find North Carolina on a map and still think Mark Cuban bought the team. First article appears in Quebec rumoring the Canes will move there in 2021. Locally, Luke DeCock writes an article full of praise for the Canes. Ron Francis meets with Chip Alexander and says. “I really like this team.” Tickets for the first round of the playoffs are sold out the first day of sales. Some of us predicted failure in late September, called TD brash, undeserving and cheap, Waddell the reason the Thrashers failed, Brind’amor a failure in waiting and the Skinner trade the best example of why those three were incompetent. Looking back to then it is hard to believe they were so wrong.
To Raleightj: Here’s hoping your day has ends up successful and my attempted humor made you smile as you begin your recovery.
Nicely done, sir. I hope you’re right.
My read on the gauntle:
March 19 vs. Penguins — W
March 21 vs. Lightning — W
March 23 vs. The Wild — L
March 24 vs. Canadiens — W
March 26 at Capitals — L
March 28 vs. Capitals — L
March 30 vs. Flyers — W
March 31 at Penguins — W
April 2 at Maple Leafs — W
April 4 vs. Devils — W
April 6 at Flyers — L
My sense is the Capitals have our number but we have a new-found understanding of how to beat the Pens. The Lightning take it easy and get surprised but a let down against a battling Wild club opens the team’s eyes. Montreal is beat handily. We’ll split w/the Flyers, easily beat the Devils, and show the Leafs how important a top notch defense can be.
My lottery entry…
March 19 vs. Penguins — W — I think Pens have issues moving puck against Canes forecheck.
March 21 vs. Lightning — L — The Canes heartbreaking loss shows just how perfect Canes have to be to win this game. Odds are they do not.
March 23 vs. The Wild — W — Wild is struggling. Canes continue run of immediate rebounds.
March 24 vs. Canadiens — W — Canadiens continue slide, and Canes continue 2nd half mojo.
March 26 at Capitals — L — Caps are starting to put it together. Road is tough.
March 28 vs. Capitals — OTL — Canes rebound but still lose in OT.
March 30 vs. Flyers — W — Canes need and get a home win against team out of the playoff chase.
March 31 at Penguins — L — Pens push back at home after losing 2 straight to Canes.
April 2 at Maple Leafs — L — Tough road win.
April 4 vs. Devils — W — Like Flyers game, Canes need and get win.
April 6 at Flyers — W — I think Canes win this game if they need it for playoff position.
Canes clinch playoff berth at home again Devils.