Carolina Hurricanes Release 2018-19 Schedule

Things seem to be going the Carolina Hurricanes’ way in the first offseason of the Tom Dundon-Don Waddell-Rod Brind’Amour era. After landing the No. 2 pick in the draft lottery in May, Thursday’s full NHL schedule release was also kind to the Canes.

The schedule is very favorable for the Hurricanes, even with 17 back to backs (13 involving travel). There are perks both for the players in terms of travel and balance, and for filling PNC Arena with some prime home dates. Here are some of the highlights:

• Carolina will open at home for the second year in a row, hosting the New York Islanders at PNC Arena Thursday Oct. 4. The Canes will play three games opening weekend, heading to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets the day as part of their first back to back and hosting the Rangers Sunday.
• The traditional “State Fair Road Trip” appears to be going by the wayside this year, as Carolina will play just three road games, against the Wild, Jets and Lightning during the annual festivities across Trinity Road. In fact, the Canes will actually play a home game during the Fair this year, hosting the Colorado Avalanche on the final Saturday (can you say traffic?).
• This has to be the first time since the Canes started going on the road for the Fair that home games have outnumbered away in October; Carolina will play seven times at home compared to five away in the season’s first month.
• November brings the Canes’ longest homestand of the season, with a six-game set against the Red Wings, Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Devils, Maple Leafs and Panthers from the 10-23. This will be a key stretch to bank points early on as the Canes try and earn that coveted position in the postseason picture by Thanksgiving.
• The team will also have two more five-game homestands, one in December against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals (the Canes and Caps meet for the first time Dec. 14), Coyotes, Red Wings, Penguins and Bruins. The other homestand could prove critical if the Canes are in the playoff chase down the stretch, as the team will host the Sabres, Penguins, Lightning, Wild and Canadiens March 16-24.
• The season’s longest road trip? Five games in early February, with the team facing the Penguins, Sabres, Rangers, Devils and Senators the 5-12. The Canes will make their usual consolidated swings through California and Western Canada, visiting the Kings, Sharks and Ducks to start December, and Oilers, Flames and Canucks to close out January.
• That Canada swing will kick off an extended All-Star break for the Canes, as the team’s league-mandated, five-day bye week will follow this year’s festivities in San Jose. The team will be off Jan. 24-31 before hosting the Vegas Golden Knights Feb. 1.
• The Canes have plenty of weekend home games this year, 27 of 41 to be exact.
• In addition, the team has several games at PNC Arena around the holidays, hosting the Maple Leafs the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, a back-to-back against the Penguins and Bruins before Christmas and the Flyers on New Year’s Eve.
• Looking for a close, convenient road trip? The early Friday game against Columbus, a trip to Washington two days after Christmas (a Thursday), a visit to Nashville Saturday March 9 and the regular-season finale in Philadelphia Saturday April 6 stand out. These are a little further away, but the Canes will visit Vegas on a weekend this year (Saturday Nov. 3) and will face the Islanders at old Nassau Coliseum Tuesday Jan. 8.
• Stick tap to Brett for pointing this out on Twitter: Six of the Canes’ last seven games are against the Metropolitan Division (two against the Capitals, two against the Flyers and one each against the Devils and Penguins).

Here’s the full schedule. Which games are you looking most forward to?