Tim Kavanagh, ESPN.comMar 17, 2024, 08:00 AM ET
CloseTim Kavanagh is a senior editor for ESPN digital editorial. He’s a native of upstate New York.
While six teams remain in viable contention for the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there is some excitement happening at the other end of the playoff-bound spectrum.
Specifically, can the Carolina Hurricanes go on enough of a run in their final 15 games to earn the No. 1 spot in the Metro ahead of the New York Rangers — or even the top position in the conference, beyond the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins?
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The Canes made trades with divisional rivals in acquiring winger Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov, and the early returns have been encouraging: Kuznetsov had a goal and Guentzel had an assist in Carolina’s 4-0 trouncing of the Panthers on Thursday. Regulation wins against teams they are chasing are quite helpful in earning that No. 1 position.
Unfortunately when considering that notion, the Canes have two games left against the Bruins this season (Apr. 4 in Raleigh, Apr. 9 in Boston), but none against New York or Florida. But they do have five games left against clubs that are close to the basement, beginning with Sunday’s clash with the Ottawa Senators (6 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). They’ll also skate against the Montreal Canadiens (March 30), Columbus Blue Jackets twice (Apr. 7 and 16) and Chicago Blackhawks once (Apr. 14).
As of Sunday, Carolina is four points and two regulation wins behind the Rangers in the Metro; the Canes are seven points behind the Bruins (but three ahead in regulation wins), and six points and three regulation wins behind the Panthers.
While that seems like a lot of ground to make up, this is a team that just added two top-six difference-makers, and recently welcomed No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen back to the ice as well. If there’s a team that could pull off such a heater to close out the season, this sure looks…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39746155/nhl-playoffs-standings-2024-hurricanes-top-seed-east-bracket
Author : Tim Kavanagh
Publish date : 2024-03-17 13:13:48
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