North Raleigh Today

The Carolina Hurricanes are set to resume their regular season after a four-day practice break, with a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. This match marks the beginning of a challenging stretch, with 26 games scheduled over 52 days as teams vie for playoff positions.

Currently, the Hurricanes hold the second spot in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 33-19-4. However, competition remains tight, with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh just six points shy of a Wild Card berth. Despite this pressure, players like Jackson Blake emphasize focusing on their performance rather than competitors. "It's about eliminating some of the highs and lows," he stated.

Sean Walker echoed this sentiment, highlighting the team's need for consistency post-break. "Coming back from break we're definitely going to try and eliminate some of those highs and lows and be as consistent as possible," Walker commented.

Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour stressed the importance of consistently positioning themselves to win games. "You want to always give yourself a chance to win," he said, acknowledging areas needing improvement but expressing optimism about potential growth.

A notable challenge for the team is their performance disparity between home and away games. While successful at Lenovo Center with 21 wins out of 28 games, only 12 victories have been secured on the road. The team averages fewer goals per game when away from home, which will be crucial to address given that half of their remaining games are outside North Carolina.

The power play has also been inconsistent in 2025. Initially ranking seventh in the league with a success rate of 27.8%, it has since dropped significantly. Changes in personnel aim to bolster this aspect as Taylor Hall and Mikko Rantanen join new roles.

As March approaches, Shayne Gostisbehere underscores the importance of finding their rhythm before playoffs begin. "This is a big part of the year," he noted, emphasizing confidence going into postseason play.

With experienced players ready for another playoff run, including rookies like Jackson Blake gaining valuable experience, the Hurricanes are poised to tackle upcoming challenges head-on.