Carolina Hurricanes vs. Dallas Stars: Preview, Game Notes, How to Watch

Carolina Hurricanes vs Dallas Stars
April 1, 2017 - 7:00 pm
PNC Arena - Raleigh, NC
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Rival Blog - Defending Big D

• It’s April and your Carolina Hurricanes are relevant in playoffs discussion. No, this is not an April Fool’s joke. No, they do not control their playoff destiny. No, the odds are not in their favor. But with franchise record-setting points in 13 straight games, exciting wins against some of the top teams in the standings, and step-up performances from the league’s youngest roster, damn if they’re not fun to watch at the moment. So sit back and enjoy the good times while they last, even if they only last for another week.
• The Hurricanes head into the last week of the NHL’s regular season with six games to play over the next eight days. Their itinerary includes two sets of back-to-back games with travel, a trip to the Central time zone, three opponents who have clinched a playoff berth, and two teams they are battling head-to-head for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot.
• For those keeping track of such things, the Canes currently reside four points behind the Bruins for the final wild card spot, with one game in hand. They also have to leap the Lightning, who are a point ahead of them. They are tied in points with the Islanders, who they will face on Thursday, and two points ahead of the Flyers, who they’ll face in next Sunday’s regular season finale. Their ‘tragic number’ (number of points lost by the Canes or gained by teams ahead of them to guarantee elimination) sits at 8 today but is really closer to either 7 or 6 because the Bruins and Lightning still have a head-to-head game remaining.
• The Dallas Stars are already eliminated from playoff contention. They arrive in Raleigh to play their fourth game of a five-game road trip having dropped their last two games and down two players to injury after a 2-0 shutout loss to the Bruins Thursday night. The Stars have struggled to find offense of late, but they not a team to be taken lightly by the Hurricanes. They have won the last four head-to-head games against the Canes and have averaged five goals per game doing so, including a 5-2 win in Dallas on Nov. 14.
• The Canes open the weekend with their 15th of 16 sets of back-to-back games, heading to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins after tonight’s game. This season they are 7-3-4 in the front halves of back-to-back sets, and 7-5-2 in the back halves of the sets.
• From a fan experience perspective, there’s a ton going on tonight inside PNC Arena. The Canes are hosting Social Media Night, with ticket specials that include pizza and beer and guaranteed access to four (4) emoji cutout souvenirs (limited availability to other fans), and in-arena entertainment and prizes. The first 10,000 fans in the building will also receive a pack of Upper Deck trading cards, and a limited number of Homegrown Series “Blackbeard” shirts (back by fan vote) will be available for purchase at The Eye when doors open at 6:00 pm.
• Outside the arena, the NHL Centennial Fan Arena kicks off today at noon on the South Plaza. This FREE event is a traveling show that will visit all league markets this year to highlight 100 years of NHL history. It features museum trucks, interactive fan experiences, and a photo opportunity with the Stanley Cup. The Fan Arena will be open from noon until 7:00 pm today, and from noon until 5:00 pm on Sunday, check out the Centennial Fan Arena site for more details.
• Both teams are expected to take the ice later this morning, and updated lineups and an in-depth analysis of tonight’s opponent are forthcoming. In the meantime, great news that this fellow is already back out on the ice.